Like many counties around Florida, Hernando passed an ordinance on May 10th, adding restrictions to where medical marijuana growing facilities can be located within the county in anticipation of the medical marijuana amendment passing in November.
The legislature this year legalized full strength medical marijuana for terminally ill patients whose doctors say they have a year to live or less. There is a very limited number of growers licensed to produce the marijuana and none have actually distributed any yet because of ongoing lawsuits. The following is the amendment on the ballot to bring medical marijuana to a broader group of patients.
BALLOT TITLE: “Use of Marijuana for Debilitating Medical Conditions”
BALLOT SUMMARY: “Allows medical use of marijuana for individuals with debilitating medical conditions as determined by a licensed Florida physician. Allows caregivers to assist patients’ medical use of marijuana. The Department of Health shall register and regulate centers that produce and distribute marijuana for medical purposes and shall issue identification cards to patients and caregivers. Applies only to Florida law. Does not immunize violations of federal law or any non-medical use, possession or production of marijuana.”
During the BOCC meeting on May 10th, Commissioner Dukes stated, “I’m not going to support this because I just can’t bring myself to do it.”
Commissioner Nicholson made the following comments, “There is a place in my heart for the veterans that need this help, as well as other people. Whether you like it or you don’t, it’s coming. It’s already been enacted that’s going to be available for people for medical use and in the instances where it relieves people’s suffering, I think it’s going to do a world of good. And I’m highly in favor of going ahead and proceeding and being proactive.”
Chairman Adkins clarified, “As far as I’m concerned all we’re doing now is making a facilities or places where we can permit it to be grown, because it’s already basically passed by the state.”
Ron Pianta, Assistant County Administrator confirmed, “That is correct. The action that the board is taking is not for the approval of the use of medical marijuana, the action that the board is taking is giving you the ability to license those facilities so that the Sheriff’s Office and the county has some control over them and the location. You are authorized to do that by state statute, by what was passed by the legislature.” He continued, stating that the ordinance places more restrictions on the facilities.
Motion to adopt the second reading of the ordinance carried 5-0.
A discussion of the ordinance appeared in last week’s issue of Hernando Sun.