Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
As Florida increases access to medical marijuana, Broward County commissioners plan to create their own advisory board on the subject.
The board approved Commissioner Mark Bogen's request Tuesday to start the process of creating an 11-member committee that would follow the impact of medical marijuana in the county and make policy recommendations to commissioners.
"I believe that this diverse advisory board will be able to provide the commissioners with information and advice that will better guide us in moving forward, such as industry best practices and any legislative changes that come down," Bogen said. He isn't aware of another county that has such a board.
Voters approved a medical marijuana constitutional amendment in November, and legislators passed rules about regulations during a special session last week. Gov. Rick Scott has indicated he will sign the bill.
The bill provides for the use of medical marijuana and allows patients to receive up to a 70-day supply and two refills before having to go back to a doctor. It does away with a previous 90-day waiting period for a prescription that was included in a 2014 law. It also bans smoking marijuana.
The list of conditions that qualify for use of medical marijuana includes: cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, PTSD, ALS, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis or a condition of the "same kind or class."
The 2014 law allowed for seven licensed medical marijuana growers in the state. The new legislation adds 10 more. Each license holder will be able to operate 25 dispensaries.
Broward's advisory board likely would make recommendations for future operations that grow, process or dispense medical marijuana in the county. It would also make recommendations about regulations and fees related to the dispensing of the drug.
The board also would collect information about medical marijuana in the county and educate county residents about the benefits and drawbacks of using medical marijuana.
The board could include representatives from law enforcement, a hospital district, Broward schools, businesses, the county Health Department, academics in the field and at-large individuals.
Commissioners have not yet established zoning regulations about where medical marijuana dispensaries and other operations can be located in the county's unincorporated areas. Commissioners aren't expected to consider those proposals until their Aug. 22 meeting.
Some cities have created their regulations or have placed a moratorium on any dispensaries being set up until their rules are in place. An earlier county proposal identified one location in Broadview Park for a dispensary, on the west side of State Road 7 south of Riverland Road.
Two other unincorporated sites were identified that could be used for cultivation and processing, with accessory dispensing: near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, at Ravenswood Road and Southwest 42nd Street, and an interim landfill area on Sheridan Street near the former Broward Correctional Institution.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical marijuana advisory board may be formed in Broward - Sun Sentinel
Author: Larry Barszewski
Contact: Contact Us - Sun Sentinel
Photo Credit: Surterra Holdings
Website: Broward & Palm Beach News, Sports - Sun Sentinel
The board approved Commissioner Mark Bogen's request Tuesday to start the process of creating an 11-member committee that would follow the impact of medical marijuana in the county and make policy recommendations to commissioners.
"I believe that this diverse advisory board will be able to provide the commissioners with information and advice that will better guide us in moving forward, such as industry best practices and any legislative changes that come down," Bogen said. He isn't aware of another county that has such a board.
Voters approved a medical marijuana constitutional amendment in November, and legislators passed rules about regulations during a special session last week. Gov. Rick Scott has indicated he will sign the bill.
The bill provides for the use of medical marijuana and allows patients to receive up to a 70-day supply and two refills before having to go back to a doctor. It does away with a previous 90-day waiting period for a prescription that was included in a 2014 law. It also bans smoking marijuana.
The list of conditions that qualify for use of medical marijuana includes: cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, PTSD, ALS, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis or a condition of the "same kind or class."
The 2014 law allowed for seven licensed medical marijuana growers in the state. The new legislation adds 10 more. Each license holder will be able to operate 25 dispensaries.
Broward's advisory board likely would make recommendations for future operations that grow, process or dispense medical marijuana in the county. It would also make recommendations about regulations and fees related to the dispensing of the drug.
The board also would collect information about medical marijuana in the county and educate county residents about the benefits and drawbacks of using medical marijuana.
The board could include representatives from law enforcement, a hospital district, Broward schools, businesses, the county Health Department, academics in the field and at-large individuals.
Commissioners have not yet established zoning regulations about where medical marijuana dispensaries and other operations can be located in the county's unincorporated areas. Commissioners aren't expected to consider those proposals until their Aug. 22 meeting.
Some cities have created their regulations or have placed a moratorium on any dispensaries being set up until their rules are in place. An earlier county proposal identified one location in Broadview Park for a dispensary, on the west side of State Road 7 south of Riverland Road.
Two other unincorporated sites were identified that could be used for cultivation and processing, with accessory dispensing: near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, at Ravenswood Road and Southwest 42nd Street, and an interim landfill area on Sheridan Street near the former Broward Correctional Institution.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical marijuana advisory board may be formed in Broward - Sun Sentinel
Author: Larry Barszewski
Contact: Contact Us - Sun Sentinel
Photo Credit: Surterra Holdings
Website: Broward & Palm Beach News, Sports - Sun Sentinel
