A.G. Gancarski
Jacksonville finally is on the verge of having a Charlotte’s Web bill, addressing cultivation, processing, and dispensing of low-THC cannabis.
It comes after a tortuous process that spanned two classes of Jacksonville’s City Council, encompassed five months and two moratoriums, and took three joint workshops between Land Use and Zoning and the Planning Commission this fall.
The first moratorium left Jacksonville council members in a sticky situation, being imposed via political pressure from a Gainesville political consultant on behalf of an interested party downstate. That moratorium was signed into law by Mayor Alvin Brown, then repealed, and then a second moratorium was imposed, which gave the city time to work out the logistics of the pending legislation, which we published in draft form a couple of weeks ago.
An interesting wrinkle to watch from the workshop on Tuesday: How would the removal of Planning Commission Chairwoman Lisa King affect the discourse?
The differences between the first and second workshop meeting were stark, and King’s involvement was a big part of an increased realism in the discourse. With new members on the Planning Commission, a minor point of curiosity for this writer: would there be a different take from the new folks?
Interesting: Susan Grandin, from the office of General Counsel, scrupulously noted the use of the “low-THC” modifier in the draft bill, “so if the state changes the definition of what they allow, we won’t just fall into that definition,” but will have another exciting round of review.
And “the CBD is the thing that inhibits the seizures in the people” and the “low-THC means it doesn’t get you high,” Grandin said, sounding for all the world like someone ordering from a menu written in a language she wasn’t quite familiar with.
Grandin gave a shout out to the new Commission members, telling them how to read legislation, and explaining why things are struck through on draft copies.
As Grandin explained the bill, Planning Commissioners stared at the ceiling or rocked in chairs in a couple of cases, demonstrating total engagement in the process. One new addition (Blind Item!) looked especially engaged, as he tested exactly how far back the chair could rock, as he chewed his pen in thought.
Grandin assured those in attendance that people couldn’t queue outside of these facilities, which is probably best practice for grievously ill children and their families.
Councilwoman Lori Boyer pushed back, wanting Grandin to “draft the negative so we’re not being lobbied for a moratorium” in case the state were to suddenly legalize full scale medical marijuana (this assumes that Sheldon Adelson doesn’t get bored next fall), creating a moratorium to avoid the “parade of horribles argument” that is made where some argue “this is just opening the floodgates for the next thing.”
Boyer also wanted a more fixed structure for cultivation than a “temporary greenhouse,” and statutory disqualifications of non low-THC cannabis.
Considerable discussion of what constituted a structure followed, then discussion of what constituted a building, in a manner worthy of freshman philosophy seminar.
Grandin: “Maybe climate control, because you have to keep the air in?”
Grandin then followed up with how people are breaking into gun stores in Tampa, adding that “maybe we need to think about guns.”
Indeed.
Boyer’s concern: “I don’t want it to be shacks,” but instead a more permanent structure, rather than something “that is non-substantial.”
After some discussion, “commercial warehouse with no windows” was the accepted formulation.
Similar discussions, laden with lexicographical nuance, were held on parking issues, and locational criteria.
Boyer moved that the legislation, with amendments, be introduced by Land Use and Zoning.
Then, Donald Adkison had a question regarding the “byproduct.”
“Do you have an incinerator?”
As well, regarding the “byproduct,” which Adkison likened to “yard waste,” he wondered if a Certificate of Need would be necessary.
Apparently, medical waste facilities dispose of this material out west, according to Christopher Ralph, who offered expert testimony on this matter.
The bill, mercifully, passed through workshop.
