County may limit marijuana dispensaries

By John Labriola - Citrus County is considering a move to limit the proliferation of marijuana dispensaries in the county.  

Last week, Citrus County commissioners asked County Attorney Denise Lyn to come back with a proposed ordinance to require a greater distance between "medical marijuana" clinics and Citrus County schools. 

Citrus County currently follows the minimum requirements in Florida law, which prohibits marijuana dispensaries within 500 feet of an elementary, middle or high school.

Commissioner Jeff Kinnard, who is proposing the ordinance, said increasing the distance from schools is about the only way counties can limit the establishment of marijuana facilities, of which there are currently at least 10 in the county.

"It's my own personal belief that there are plenty of dispensaries in the county to handle the medical needs of those who have gotten their medical marijuana cards," Kinnard said. "It's certainly not a slight on anyone realizing the benefits with the use of medical marijuana, but what I don't want to see is, when you travel to some of these areas where recreational marijuana has become the law of the land, is these smoke shops or dispensaries seemingly on every corner."

Medical marijuana was legalized in Florida in a 2016 voter-approved constitutional amendment. Last year, voters defeated a proposed amendment to legalize recreational marijuana, with Gov. Ron DeSantis leading the opposition, but the amendment's sponsors are trying again. 

Legally, marijuana dispensaries cannot be treated differently from pharmacies, which means pharmacies would be subject to whatever distance rules are established for marijuana clinics. Last year, the Crystal River City Council prohibited the establishment of any more medical marijuana dispensaries in Crystal River in response to the rapid proliferation of marijuana facilities there. 

Changing the rules for marijuana dispensaries would require an amendment to the county's land development code, which would first have to be approved by the Planning and Development Commission.

Curtiss Bryant of Lecanto, who ran for County Commission as a Republican last year against Kinnard, spoke out at last week's commission meeting against limiting marijuana facilities by parroting the talking points of the marijuana industry.

"It seems like a government overreach thing to me," Bryant said, arguing that tobacco and fast food kill more people than marijuana. "Medical marijuana is highly regulated. Kids aren't buying it from the street. It's probably going to be decriminalized at some point in the future anyway."

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