Pubdate: Sun, 19 Oct 2014
Source: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Copyright: 2014 Sun-Sentinel Company
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/mVLAxQfA
Website: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/159
Author: Ariel Barkhurst, Staff writer
Page: Front Page

CITIES BACK INTERIM HALT ON MARIJUANA BUSINESSES

The rush to delay medical marijuana dispensaries from opening in some 
cities is on, even before Florida voters decide the marijuana measure on 
Nov. 4.

Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, North Palm Beach, Lake Clarke Shores and the 
village of Golf all have given initial approval to halting marijuana 
treatment centers and dispensaries from opening in their areas for at 
least a year.

Other cities in Palm Beach County are ready to welcome the marijuana 
businesses into their towns - but only on their terms. Juno Beach will 
consider allowing them to open only in the town's medical-commercial 
district.

Palm Springs is contemplating a measure that would ensure the pot 
dispensaries don't open too close to homes, schools and churches. The 
village is modeling its actions after other government entities in 
states where medical marijuana is legal.

"What we have learned from other states is they kind of missed the 
ball," said Kim Glas-Castro, Palm Springs' land-development director. 
"The cities that enact regulations early have the best ability to 
specify where dispensaries can be located."

If voters approve the amendment legalizing medical marijuana next month, 
the use of marijuana would expand across Florida.

Because it is unclear how fast the state would let the industry grow, 
officials countywide have expressed concerns about how many dispensaries 
will be headed their way and where the businesses would open their doors.

So cities are taking action and planning ahead.

Amendment 2 supporters say cities that enact moratoriums could be 
missing out on helping sick residents.

"By issuing moratoriums they are driving patients to other surrounding 
cities or forcing them to continue to get medication from the black 
market, which defeats the whole purpose of Amendment 2," said Karen 
Goldstein, director of the Florida chapter of Norml, a group that 
advocates for the rights of medical marijuana users. "What these cities 
are doing shows a complete lack of compassion for their residents."

But Boynton Beach Mayor Jerry Taylor said the moratorium has nothing to 
do with whether the city is for or against medical marijuana. He said 
it's a tool the city is using to help plan for the results of the 
statewide vote.

This month, Palm Springs initially approved a zoning change allowing 
medical-marijuana treatment centers and dispensaries to open if they are 
located certain distances from schools, neighborhoods and other 
dispensaries.

"We would rather have something on the books to work with," Glas-Castro 
said.

Other cities also plan to take a stance on the controversial subject: 
Delray Beach, Haverhill and Hypoluxo officials say their councils are 
scheduled to discuss such temporary bans at upcoming meetings.

Meanwhile, other municipalities say they are waiting for the results of 
the medical-marijuana referendum before deciding what, if any, action 
they'll take.

The village of Wellington plans to leave it up to the state to take any 
regulatory steps, if the amendment passes, said Wellington Manager Paul 
Schofield.

"We are not sure of exactly what we would be regulating," Schofield said 
in an email.

If Amendment 2 passes, Palm Beach Gardens similarly would consider a 
six-month moratorium on medical-marijuana dispensaries, said city 
spokeswoman Candice Temple, the city's media manager.

Richard Radcliffe, executive director of Palm Beach County League of 
Cities, said cities have different schools of thought on medical 
marijuana and how to prepare for it.

The Florida League of Cities plans to offer "a menu of options" for 
cities to consider - based on whether cities want to implement 
moratoriums or welcome the industry to their cities, he said.

"There are different ways of addressing it," he said. "But without 
having a crystal ball, all of these are educated guesses."
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MAP posted-by: Matt