Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Tamarac has followed other cities in buying time as it tries to find ways to limit the impact of medical marijuana dispensing entities and treatment centers opening within its limits.
At a recent city commission meeting, officials ratified the city manager's decision to declare "zoning in progress," thus prohibiting the opening of any dispensaries or treatment centers until June this year. City staff will use the time to come up with recommendations on how best to regulate such facilities.
The majority of cities in the county have either imposed a moratorium on such facilities or introduced ordinances, Director of Community Development Maxine Calloway told officials. Plantation, Parkland, Davie and Hollywood are among the local bodies that have ordinances, she added.
The city will look to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries and treatment centers through a number of measures, including introducing an approval process with the city commission as the deciding authority. Establishing zoning regulations to control the number and location of treatment centers and introducing separation requirements are other ways to check the potential proliferation of such centers.
"Most municipalities regulate by population, or by zoning regulations and distance requirements," said Calloway. "Davie and Hollywood regulate not only by zoning and distance requirements but also by population. Only one dispensary per 50,000 people is allowed in Davie and one per 65,000 in Hollywood."
Voters approved medical use of marijuana in November, but the state has yet to establish rules and regulations. The constitutional amendment took effect Jan. 3. The Florida Department of Health will come up with rules and regulations by September.
"It is good to know what other cities will do," said Mayor Harry Dressler. "But until we know what the rules and the game is, we can't really determine what we will do."
City Manager Mike Cernech said he is not ruling out the medical marijuana situation in the state turning into a "full-blown recreational marijuana situation." "This is simply the tip of the iceberg," he said. "There will be people who want to make big bets on this as it is big, big money. ... Based on what we have seen in some other states in the country, it won't take us long to get there."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Tamarac Among Cities Making Move On Marijuana
Author: Arun Sivasankaran
Contact: (954) 356-4000
Photo Credit: Amy Beth Bennett
Website: Sun Sentinel
At a recent city commission meeting, officials ratified the city manager's decision to declare "zoning in progress," thus prohibiting the opening of any dispensaries or treatment centers until June this year. City staff will use the time to come up with recommendations on how best to regulate such facilities.
The majority of cities in the county have either imposed a moratorium on such facilities or introduced ordinances, Director of Community Development Maxine Calloway told officials. Plantation, Parkland, Davie and Hollywood are among the local bodies that have ordinances, she added.
The city will look to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries and treatment centers through a number of measures, including introducing an approval process with the city commission as the deciding authority. Establishing zoning regulations to control the number and location of treatment centers and introducing separation requirements are other ways to check the potential proliferation of such centers.
"Most municipalities regulate by population, or by zoning regulations and distance requirements," said Calloway. "Davie and Hollywood regulate not only by zoning and distance requirements but also by population. Only one dispensary per 50,000 people is allowed in Davie and one per 65,000 in Hollywood."
Voters approved medical use of marijuana in November, but the state has yet to establish rules and regulations. The constitutional amendment took effect Jan. 3. The Florida Department of Health will come up with rules and regulations by September.
"It is good to know what other cities will do," said Mayor Harry Dressler. "But until we know what the rules and the game is, we can't really determine what we will do."
City Manager Mike Cernech said he is not ruling out the medical marijuana situation in the state turning into a "full-blown recreational marijuana situation." "This is simply the tip of the iceberg," he said. "There will be people who want to make big bets on this as it is big, big money. ... Based on what we have seen in some other states in the country, it won't take us long to get there."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Tamarac Among Cities Making Move On Marijuana
Author: Arun Sivasankaran
Contact: (954) 356-4000
Photo Credit: Amy Beth Bennett
Website: Sun Sentinel
