Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
City commissioners voted unanimously Monday to ban marijuana dispensaries within the city limits of Sarasota.
The board also voted unanimously to give the city's staff a 60-day period to draft an ordinance that will eventually allow them.
Last fall, more than 70 percent of Florida voters approved the use of medical marijuana, and on Jan. 2, Amendment 2 took effect.
The City Commission and Sarasota Police Department have been working on an ordinance that regulated the dispensaries within city zoning. In October, the city commissioners enacted a nine-month moratorium on any dispensaries to study how to best enable them.
The city ordinance was set to go, but then Gov. Rick Scott signed a new state law on June 23 that stipulates local governments cannot be more restrictive on dispensaries than they are on traditional pharmacies.
City leaders had planned to set some restrictions, including limiting the distance between residential areas and the dispensaries, and prohibiting drive-through windows. But city commissioners can't approve the ordinance they created because it goes against the new state law and the board doesn't have enough time to create a new one. The city's moratorium is set to end July 17.
City attorney Robert Fournier said Sarasota would be "in chaos" if dispensaries were enabled when the moratorium ends without any ordinance in place to regulate them.
"You're in sort of a limbo as to what's allowed and what isn't," Fournier said. "You don't want to do that."
After 15 residents voiced their opinions at the Monday meeting about why marijuana dispensaries are needed in Sarasota – some pointing to the potential revenue for the city in addition to helping to ease people's pain – commissioners decided to temporarily ban the dispensaries until they can modify the ordinance they had created.
Deborah Filicon, 65, was one of the people who spoke about why medical marijuana dispensaries are needed. Filicon said she suffers from five types of arthritis and cannot take arthritis medication because a few years ago she took one that left her esophagus chemically burnt.
She said she believes medical marijuana would be a "godsend," and if it was available in the city, it would be easier for her to obtain.
Filicon uses a spine brace and a cane to walk, and says she is in constant pain. Some nights, Filicon said, she wakes up screaming and crying from it. Some days, she can't leave her bed.
"If it sounds like I'm angry, it's because I am," she told commissioners in a shaky voice on Monday.
Sarasota Police Capt. Corinne Stannish spoke about what she considers the public safety issues that dispensaries without regulations could bring, including potential break-ins and robberies that could take place because they are cash-only businesses. Under some scenarios, police could potentially seize marijuana without knowing it was legally obtained.
But in a month, Stannish said her department plans to have a registry in place that would allow officers to see who is allowed to possess medical marijuana.
The police captain recommended that city be cautious and ban the dispensaries until there is an ordinance that protects Sarasota from lawsuits.
"We are pledging to continue working with the city to explore options," Stannish said.
City Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch said she believed that no board member wants to prohibit dispensaries, but, in the short term, they had no other option than to ban them.
"The word 'ban' sounds awful, but we are in this legal corner, so we have to get out as quickly and efficiently as possible," Ahearn-Koch said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: In Sarasota, medical marijuana dispensaries on hold - News - Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sarasota, FL
Author: Jimena Tavel
Contact: Sarasota, FL - Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Sarasota, FL
The board also voted unanimously to give the city's staff a 60-day period to draft an ordinance that will eventually allow them.
Last fall, more than 70 percent of Florida voters approved the use of medical marijuana, and on Jan. 2, Amendment 2 took effect.
The City Commission and Sarasota Police Department have been working on an ordinance that regulated the dispensaries within city zoning. In October, the city commissioners enacted a nine-month moratorium on any dispensaries to study how to best enable them.
The city ordinance was set to go, but then Gov. Rick Scott signed a new state law on June 23 that stipulates local governments cannot be more restrictive on dispensaries than they are on traditional pharmacies.
City leaders had planned to set some restrictions, including limiting the distance between residential areas and the dispensaries, and prohibiting drive-through windows. But city commissioners can't approve the ordinance they created because it goes against the new state law and the board doesn't have enough time to create a new one. The city's moratorium is set to end July 17.
City attorney Robert Fournier said Sarasota would be "in chaos" if dispensaries were enabled when the moratorium ends without any ordinance in place to regulate them.
"You're in sort of a limbo as to what's allowed and what isn't," Fournier said. "You don't want to do that."
After 15 residents voiced their opinions at the Monday meeting about why marijuana dispensaries are needed in Sarasota – some pointing to the potential revenue for the city in addition to helping to ease people's pain – commissioners decided to temporarily ban the dispensaries until they can modify the ordinance they had created.
Deborah Filicon, 65, was one of the people who spoke about why medical marijuana dispensaries are needed. Filicon said she suffers from five types of arthritis and cannot take arthritis medication because a few years ago she took one that left her esophagus chemically burnt.
She said she believes medical marijuana would be a "godsend," and if it was available in the city, it would be easier for her to obtain.
Filicon uses a spine brace and a cane to walk, and says she is in constant pain. Some nights, Filicon said, she wakes up screaming and crying from it. Some days, she can't leave her bed.
"If it sounds like I'm angry, it's because I am," she told commissioners in a shaky voice on Monday.
Sarasota Police Capt. Corinne Stannish spoke about what she considers the public safety issues that dispensaries without regulations could bring, including potential break-ins and robberies that could take place because they are cash-only businesses. Under some scenarios, police could potentially seize marijuana without knowing it was legally obtained.
But in a month, Stannish said her department plans to have a registry in place that would allow officers to see who is allowed to possess medical marijuana.
The police captain recommended that city be cautious and ban the dispensaries until there is an ordinance that protects Sarasota from lawsuits.
"We are pledging to continue working with the city to explore options," Stannish said.
City Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch said she believed that no board member wants to prohibit dispensaries, but, in the short term, they had no other option than to ban them.
"The word 'ban' sounds awful, but we are in this legal corner, so we have to get out as quickly and efficiently as possible," Ahearn-Koch said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: In Sarasota, medical marijuana dispensaries on hold - News - Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sarasota, FL
Author: Jimena Tavel
Contact: Sarasota, FL - Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Sarasota, FL
