- November 7, 2024
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Despite the passage of an amendment allowing the use of marijuana for medical treatment in the state of Florida, effective Jan. 3, locals will have to wait a bit for access to medical pot in Flagler County.
The County Commission at its Dec. 5 meeting unanimously approved a six-month moratorium on the operation of medical marijuana dispensing facilities or treatment facilities in unincorporated Flagler County as the county’s staff studies the issue and waits for direction from the state.
“I’m hoping this isn’t a stall tactic,” resident George Mayo told commissioners during the meeting’s public comment period. “I understand that these things have to be set up properly, and we want to do do it right and do it legally and everything else. From my having some friends who are no longer with us who went through cancer treatment, and were able to use marijuana for their health and care while they were doing this, I saw how much it helped them. … I just hope this doesn’t foresee something going on, kicking it down the road and not wanting it in Flagler County.”
Flagler County Commissioner Nate McLaughlin said that wasn’t the case.
“The Legislature has to do some acton on that ballot item,” McLaughlin said. “The citizens have spoken in the statewide referendum, and we support those referendums. This is not an effort to be anti- or pro- anything, this is kind of lining us up so we can be prepared for whatever the Legislature does.”
The moratorium would expire either on June 17, 2017, or “until appropriate land development regulations and State Legislative preemption regulations become effective, whichever occurs first,” according to the county’s meeting backup documentation.
County staff will be considering zoning and land development issues surrounding the dispensaries.
“Flagler County has not yet studied and identified areas within its unincorporated limits which are appropriate for the establishment and operation of low-THC and medical cannabis dispensing organizations and their facilities,” according to the county document. “County staff is directed to initiate these studies and report to the Board of County Commissioners with appropriate findings and recommendations prior to the expiration of the temporary moratorium.”
If developing regulations takes longer than six months, the County Commission could vote to extend the moratorium.
"We’re just going to watch during the legislative session, and we’ll be back to you with any gaps we need to fill locally," County Administrator Craig Coffey told the commission at the meeting. "But this is in no way for it or against it. This is really neutral, and just letting the Legislature do their thing before we jump in behind them, so we don’t step on each other’s toes."
The Flagler County Commission at its regular Dec. 5 meeting selected members for various county and regional boards and committees. The assignments are as follows:
Charlie Ericksen: Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Flagler County Department of Juvenile Justice, George Washington Carver Governance Board, Juvenile Justice Circuit Advisory Board, School Board Planning Oversight Committee, Small County Coalition
Nate McLaughlin: Public Safety Coordinating Council, River To Sea Transportation Planning Organization, Tourist Development Council, Town of Marineland Community Redevelopment Area (temporary)
David Sullivan: Artificial Reef Technical Advisory Committee, Heritage Corridor Advocacy Group, Library Board of Trustees, Northeast Florida Regional Council, Small County Coalition, Value Adjustment Board
Donald O’Brien: Early Learning Coalition, Economic Opportunity Advisory Council, Flagler County Chamber of Commerce, School Planning Oversight Committee, Small County Coalition (alternate), Workforce Development Board, Value Adjustment Board
Seats on some boards were left open in the possibility that they might be taken on by a fifth commissioner who will be appointed by the governor for the seat left vacant since the death of Commissioner Frank Meeker in July. Those boards include the following: Friends of the A1A Scenic and Coastal Byway, A1A Scenic Pride, Florida Agricultural Museum Board of Trustees, Land Development Code Advisory Committee, GTMNERR Management Advisory Group, St. Johns River Alliance, Transportation Disadvantaged Local Governance Board.
