Pubdate: Wed, 11 Apr 2018
Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2018 Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Contact: http://www.heraldtribune.com/sendletter
Website: http://www.heraldtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/398
Author: Nicole Rodriguez

MORE MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS COMING TO SARASOTA COUNTY

SARASOTA COUNTY -- More medical marijuana is coming to the county
after the Sarasota County Commission on Wednesday approved the second
dispensary application in two days.

The County Commission voted 4-1 to allow Sarasota-based AltMed to open
a medical marijuana dispensary at 5077 Fruitville Road in the Cobia
Bay shopping plaza -- making it the second approved dispensary in
unincorporated county. Commissioner Mike Moran, who has concerns
medical dispensaries could be the gateway to legalizing recreational
marijuana in the state, cast the dissenting vote.

Wednesday's decision follows the board's approval a day earlier to
allow Trulieve to open a medical marijuana dispensary in a
freestanding building in the Venice Pines Shopping Plaza on Jacaranda
Boulevard -- the county's first approved dispensary.

While commissioners approved the two projects, some board members
stressed they don't want hundreds more sprouting up across the county.

Just like Trulieve, AltMed assured the commission there will be
security and the product will be behind lock and key.

Both sites fall just outside the city limits of Sarasota and Venice,
respectively -- the municipalities have banned such establishments,
for now -- and were the first applications made under the county's
special exception process for reviewing dispensaries since voters
overwhelmingly approved expanding medical marijuana under Amendment 2
in 2016.
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MAP posted-by: Matt