ORANGE PARK, Fla. – The Orange Park Town Council on Tuesday night came one step closer to allowing medical marijuana within city limits.
Council members voted 3-2 to not write an ordinance banning dispensaries.
The idea is going forward for two reasons. The first reason is that medical marijuana distribution centers will generate tax dollars. The second is that council members, who voted to allow it go forward, based their decision on medical studies.
Florida lawmakers have given local governments the responsibility of deciding whether to add medical marijuana dispensaries. Last year, Orange Park became one of several local municipalities to impose a moratorium, which is in effect until October.
According to the town's Planning and Zoning Board, 67 percent of Orange Park residents voted in favor of medical marijuana, but it was up to the Town Council to decide if residents needing medical marijuana could get it there or would have to travel elsewhere to get it.
During Tuesday evening's meeting, only one resident spoke about marijuana during the public comment portion, and had mixed feelings about it.
"Any plan that will produce something that will help someone in a medical way is good, but why didn't it go through the FDA (Food and Drug Administration)? Why didn't it go through the normal channel of the government, instead of just bringing it up for a vote for the public, who doesn't know a thing about what it is?" said the resident. "I think it's the wrong way to do it. I think it's a slippery slope that we'll be legalizing pot in totality."
The Town Council will have to go to the drawing board to write up an ordinance explaining medical marijuana dispensary rules, which include:
- Dispensaries cannot be within 500 feet of a school or each other.
- They can only operate in three zones: commercial general, commercial intensive or a planned unit development.
- Dispensaries cannot have advertising signs that are visible from the street.
The ordinance will then be voted on at a later date.
Before Tuesday's meeting, one mother, Jill McElyea, told News4Jax that she's hopeful the Town Council will eventually pass the ordinance allowing medical marijuana dispensaries.
“I think we need to all get educated on it and do it correctly. But yeah, I think there is a lot of benefit to be had,” McElyea said.
Her daughter deals with multiple medical issues that require medication regularly. Currently, she is relying on medicines, such as oxycodone, but McElyea knows there may be something that could help her more.
“I'm not well-versed on medical marijuana but I've heard enough stories from folks that it's changed, even in the children, their way to function. They function better throughout the day and so I would like to learn more about it,” said McElyea. “I think it's a lot better than the opioids. Right now we have pain issues that my daughter has been contending with, and oxycodone is not a good fix."
It's unclear when the Town Council will finish writing the ordinance, and when it will vote on it.