Dispensary Bans Made Permanent in Florida Cities
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]T[/dropcap]wo years have quickly passed since more than 70 percent of Florida voters approved medical cannabis. Yet only 11 of 64 approved dispensaries have opened, and temporary bans on dispensaries are quietly becoming permanent.
Starting in 2017, Florida municipalities adopted rules granting them the right to regulate dispensaries using the following two strategies: Municipalities could treat cannabis dispensaries like pharmacies or enact bans. Local concern with treating dispensaries like pharmacies is that they might populate cities too quickly as the only restriction is proximity to schools (currently 500 feet). This concern led to temporary stops, yet those stops have yet to be lifted.
Those in favor of the bans argue that state law allows dispensaries to deliver—meaning they aren’t necessary in every town. Others fear that cash-only sales of cannabis will lead to spikes in crime (authorities report that cities with operating dispensaries are not experiencing robberies or related crimes). But not all city officials are happy with their options, and many are requesting the ability to control aspects of dispensary regulation, including where they can operate and how many can be opened, on a city-by-city basis.
Currently permanent bans are in place in Boca Raton, Coral Springs, Margate, Tamarac and Pembroke Pines (during the development of medical cannabis programs these cities only had temporary bans). Other Florida cities with dispensary bans are Lake Worth, Delray Beach, Highland Beach, Hillsboro Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Royal Palm Beach, Sea Ranch Lakes and Southwest Ranches. Lake Worth was the first city to open a dispensary in the state, but it stopped allowing additional dispensaries after assigning two licenses. The city recently voted to ban the opening of any additional dispensaries, continuing the trend.
Out of the 64 approved dispensaries, the 11 in operation are all found in South Florida. Three are in Broward County, three are in Palm Beach County and five are in Miami-Dade County, according to the state Health Department records.
