A.G. Gancarski
Ordinance 2018-75, which would revise extant code relative to medical cannabis, finally cleared a Jacksonville City Council committee after a number of false starts with Monday’s approval in Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health & Safety.
The code was formulated in response to “Charlotte’s Web” low-THC cannabis being the single legal strain, and after an extended period of debate, processing and dispensing were allowed in commercial districts, with cultivation permitted in agricultural zones.
The ordinance would change things, allowing dispensaries anywhere in the city, including within 500 feet of a school. The previous zoning categories would be revoked, as would the low-THC qualifier.
The bill puts code in compliance with Florida statute. The statute prohibits cultivation and processing facilities within 500 feet of a school but allows a dispensary given a waiver within 500 feet.
This bill will only apply to medical marijuana, meaning that if ever Florida legalizes cannabis for general adult use, another round of code revision likely will be necessary.
Before the vote council vote, Land Use & Zoning will be the next stop for this legislation on Tuesday evening.
