County moves to ban more marijuana clinics

By John Labriola - After years of watching marijuana dispensaries proliferate throughout Citrus County, the County Commission is finally moving toward banning any more.

Commissioners last week voted 4-1, with far-left Commissioner Holly Davis voting no, to ask staff to bring back an ordinance changing the county's land development code to prohibit more medical marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated Citrus County. There are currently at least 10 in the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county. 

Commissioner Jeff Kinnard originally proposed increasing the required distance between marijuana treatment centers and schools, but he changed his mind after staff explained the move would also restrict commercial pharmacies, while an outright ban of more dispensaries would not. 

Last year, the Crystal River City Council prohibited the establishment of any more medical marijuana clinics in Crystal River, after the clinics had already occupied several high-visibility areas in the city.  

Curtiss Bryant of Lecanto, who ran for County Commission last year against Kinnard and has become a persistent voice in support of the marijuana industry, opposed the move as "government picking which businesses come here and which ones don't."

But Kinnard said enough marijuana dispensaries exist to serve the needs of those with medical marijuana cards, and that local governments have a right to determine how their communities develop and what businesses get to occupy their primary intersections. 

"We can't dismiss the fact that increased exposure increases acceptance and use," he said. "The more exposure people get to something, the more likely they are to accept it...and ultimately put it in their body."

Commissioners are also considering changing the land development code to limit the spread of smoke shops. 

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