Inverness bans future marijuana dispensaries

By John Labriola - Inverness has joined the rest of Citrus County in banning new marijuana dispensaries.

The Inverness City Council last week voted 4-1, with Councilwoman Jacquie Hepfer opposed, to adopt on final reading an ordinance that prohibits future marijuana dispensaries from locating within city limits. The ordinance, which takes effect immediately, won't affect existing dispensaries, which will be allowed to remain.

The move came several months after the Citrus County Commission voted to ban new marijuana dispensaries in unincorporated Citrus County, and two years after the Crystal River City Council voted to keep future dispensaries out of Crystal River, as the county has become saturated with medical marijuana "treatment centers" over the last several years. There are currently nine in the county, including two in the city of Inverness, two immediately outside Inverness city limits, four in the city of Crystal River, and one in Homosassa.

It's the second time Inverness has banned marijuana dispensaries. The first time was in 2017, shortly after Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in the state. That ordinance was repealed in 2019, after which two marijuana dispensaries opened at high-visibility locations in the city.

Last week's vote followed months of debate and delay, with the council deciding to pull the ordinance in February to instead explore making marijuana dispensaries a special exception, which would require city approval on a case-by-case basis, but that option died after the Florida Legislature failed to pass a bill this year that would have allowed it. 

In the end, council members said city residents with marijuana cards have enough access to dispensaries, and the city needs to protect its reputation as a "small town done right," particularly its downtown.

"If you have the ability to get it, why do we need to open another business? I don't really see the need within the city limits," said Mayor Bob Plaisted. "We're not a large small town, we're a small small town, and when you have a greater percentage of those businesses located in your downtown, then it changes the character of your downtown, and I think it's very important for us to consider the character of our downtown."

Seven residents spoke in favor of the ordinance. None were opposed. 

Renee Teaster, director of the Anti-Drug Coalition of Citrus County, said the proliferation of marijuana dispensaries in Citrus County has led to an increase in youth drug use because of a false perception that the drug is safe. While she acknowledged that some patients have a legitimate need for marijuana, she said existing facilities already meet that demand.

"We have to try to provide balance somewhere. Right here, right now, the balance needs to be a ban on future medical dispensaries," Teaster said. "It's not about denying access, because it already exists. It's about community, it's about future generations, and it's about small town done right."

Councilwoman Crystal Lizanich, who is running for reelection this year, unsuccessfully tried to get the council to amend the motion to bring the ordinance back a year from now so it could be repealed at that time. Councilman Gene Davis disagreed, saying the council has the ability to bring it back whenever they feel it's necessary. 

"When I go by these [dispensaries], I don't see people lined up on the street," Davis said. "If it ever becomes a supply and demand problem, we can address it at that point. I don't want to impact the people that absolutely need it. I just feel in my personal opinion, right now we have enough to facilitate that."

Davis also thanked Inverness resident Lala Sanders for her "perseverence and tenacity" in showing up at nearly every council meeting over the last several months to ask the council to limit marijuana dispensaries.