Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Deerfield Beach is willing to welcome medical marijuana dispensaries in its borders, the City Commission decided in a split vote Tuesday night.
In a 3-2 vote, a proposed ban on the dispensaries failed after a passionate discussion that included one commissioner admitting to baking illegal marijuana into brownies for his dying father.
"The last six months of his life were peaceful," said Commissioner Bernie Parness, describing his father's three years of suffering from blood cancer. "I saw what marijuana did."
State voters approved legalizing medical marijuana, with Amendment 2 and, as a result, state legislators gave communities two options. They could either ban dispensaries outright or allow them with rules no more restrictive than they impose on corner drug stores.
The Palm Beach County Commission and the Dania Beach Commission agreed last month week to allow medical marijuana dispensaries wherever pharmacies are allowed.
However, Boca Raton, Coral Gables, Coral Springs, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise and West Palm Beach have moratoriums on the dispensaries in place.
Commissioner Todd Drosky, who was joined by Vice Mayor Joe Miller in supporting the ban, lamented that the Legislature had left them with few options. And that being one of the few cities to allow it might attract more outlets than they want.
"We're opening a Pandora's Box," Drosky said, pointing out that there was little information to go on.
Because legalized pot is a legal gray area, dispensaries operate on a cash-only basis, which could make them a target for thieves, it was pointed out.
Also, banks aren't allowed to accept money from marijuana businesses because they're still illegal at the federal level, so businesses can only accept cash, rather than credit card or insurance payments.
Mayor Bill Ganz said he had to respect what Florida voters indicated in the statewide vote for medical pot that garnered approval from three-fourths of the voters in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
"It's not an easy decision," he said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Deerfield votes to allow marijuana dispensaries - Sun Sentinel
Author: Anne Geggis
Contact: Contact Us - Sun Sentinel
Photo Credit: Ron Strider
Website: Broward & Palm Beach News, Sports - Sun Sentinel
In a 3-2 vote, a proposed ban on the dispensaries failed after a passionate discussion that included one commissioner admitting to baking illegal marijuana into brownies for his dying father.
"The last six months of his life were peaceful," said Commissioner Bernie Parness, describing his father's three years of suffering from blood cancer. "I saw what marijuana did."
State voters approved legalizing medical marijuana, with Amendment 2 and, as a result, state legislators gave communities two options. They could either ban dispensaries outright or allow them with rules no more restrictive than they impose on corner drug stores.
The Palm Beach County Commission and the Dania Beach Commission agreed last month week to allow medical marijuana dispensaries wherever pharmacies are allowed.
However, Boca Raton, Coral Gables, Coral Springs, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise and West Palm Beach have moratoriums on the dispensaries in place.
Commissioner Todd Drosky, who was joined by Vice Mayor Joe Miller in supporting the ban, lamented that the Legislature had left them with few options. And that being one of the few cities to allow it might attract more outlets than they want.
"We're opening a Pandora's Box," Drosky said, pointing out that there was little information to go on.
Because legalized pot is a legal gray area, dispensaries operate on a cash-only basis, which could make them a target for thieves, it was pointed out.
Also, banks aren't allowed to accept money from marijuana businesses because they're still illegal at the federal level, so businesses can only accept cash, rather than credit card or insurance payments.
Mayor Bill Ganz said he had to respect what Florida voters indicated in the statewide vote for medical pot that garnered approval from three-fourths of the voters in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
"It's not an easy decision," he said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Deerfield votes to allow marijuana dispensaries - Sun Sentinel
Author: Anne Geggis
Contact: Contact Us - Sun Sentinel
Photo Credit: Ron Strider
Website: Broward & Palm Beach News, Sports - Sun Sentinel
