Tampa Approves Medical Cannabis Dispensaries

On Thursday evening the Tampa City Council voted 6-1 to approve an ordinance that will regulate medical cannabis dispensaries. Only Councilman Charles Miranda voted against the initiative.

The ordinance, File No. E2017-8 CH 27, regulates dispensaries and processing facilities. City leaders heard comments from the public, including parents who opposed having a surge of dispensaries in the area. “If I’m going to call myself a Christian and go to church every Sunday like I do, how can I say ‘no’ to something like this and not show compassion,” Councilman Guido Maniscalco said at the meeting. Councilman Miranda said he voted “no” because he doesn’t believe medical cannabis should be decided at the state level.

Councilman Harry Cohen said the city is about to see a “controlled evolution” as the system becomes regulated. Councilman Frank Reddick pointed out that many terminally ill patients in Tampa will be able to drop opioids because of the decision to allow dispensaries.

The ordinance requires a 500-foot buffer from schools, however, dispensarie owners will be able to apply for exemptions in restricted areas. Like many cities, dispensary areas will be limited to industrial and commercial areas out of the public eye.

Councilmembers approved a change that allows dispensaries and processing facilities will be able to operate in the same building, so long as the dispensary and processing facility have separate entrances.

Earlier this year the city enacted a temporary moratorium that expired on August 15. Voters approved Amendment 2 last year, and have been patiently waiting for dispensaries to open.

Tampa Bay is also home to some of the first walk-in clinics where patients can be certified to receive medical cannabis. California-based Tetra Health Care clinics, for instance, has opened up six clinics in Florida.

Tampa will surely benefit from opting to allow medical cannabis dispensaries to accomodate its local residents.