Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Imagine medical marijuana being legally available in Palm Beach.
Zoning Administrator Paul Castro thinks it might happen, and he is recommending the town prepare - now.
On Tuesday, the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously embraced Castro's idea for an ordinance that would prohibit medical marijuana from coming into Palm Beach or, in the alternative, heavily regulate it.
"It's not a use that anyone in this town would favor," Zoning Commissioner Lew Crampton said.
The question of whether to allow medical marijuana is on the November ballot.
In December, the Florida Supreme Court approved a medical marijuana ballot measure that will go before voters in the November presidential election. A similar measure in 2014 failed when it just barely fell short of the 60 percent threshold for approval.
If this year's version passes, local governments could ban medical marijuana facilities within their jurisdictions unless the legislature preempts them from doing so, Castro said.
"We need to address it before there is legislation," said Castro, who reviewed at least one other municipal ordinance to get a sense of how medical marijuana can be controlled.
There are two types of medical marijuana facilities. One is a dispensary, which is like a pharmacy. The other is a treatment center.
The town could limit where the facilities are located, prohibit them from being located near churches, schools, parks and other public places, and forbid them from having a drive-thru, Castro said.
They would also have to have security cameras and could not be adjacent to other tenants' spaces, meaning they would have to be in a stand-alone building, Castro suggested.
Moreover, the town could limit hours of operation and prohibit the operations from selling narcotics or alcohol, Castro said.
"If the state law passes, we can be more restrictive, but not less restrictive," Castro said. "This is a contingency plan."
The staff plans to bring a draft ordinance to the commission at its next meeting Sept. 20. If that passes muster, the Town Council would have to adopt the ordinance.
The plan would be to try to get it enacted by December, Castro said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Palm Beach Doesn't Want Medical Marijuana Coming To Town
Author: William Kelly
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: Palm Beach Daily News
Zoning Administrator Paul Castro thinks it might happen, and he is recommending the town prepare - now.
On Tuesday, the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously embraced Castro's idea for an ordinance that would prohibit medical marijuana from coming into Palm Beach or, in the alternative, heavily regulate it.
"It's not a use that anyone in this town would favor," Zoning Commissioner Lew Crampton said.
The question of whether to allow medical marijuana is on the November ballot.
In December, the Florida Supreme Court approved a medical marijuana ballot measure that will go before voters in the November presidential election. A similar measure in 2014 failed when it just barely fell short of the 60 percent threshold for approval.
If this year's version passes, local governments could ban medical marijuana facilities within their jurisdictions unless the legislature preempts them from doing so, Castro said.
"We need to address it before there is legislation," said Castro, who reviewed at least one other municipal ordinance to get a sense of how medical marijuana can be controlled.
There are two types of medical marijuana facilities. One is a dispensary, which is like a pharmacy. The other is a treatment center.
The town could limit where the facilities are located, prohibit them from being located near churches, schools, parks and other public places, and forbid them from having a drive-thru, Castro said.
They would also have to have security cameras and could not be adjacent to other tenants' spaces, meaning they would have to be in a stand-alone building, Castro suggested.
Moreover, the town could limit hours of operation and prohibit the operations from selling narcotics or alcohol, Castro said.
"If the state law passes, we can be more restrictive, but not less restrictive," Castro said. "This is a contingency plan."
The staff plans to bring a draft ordinance to the commission at its next meeting Sept. 20. If that passes muster, the Town Council would have to adopt the ordinance.
The plan would be to try to get it enacted by December, Castro said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Palm Beach Doesn't Want Medical Marijuana Coming To Town
Author: William Kelly
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: Palm Beach Daily News
