Local governments are not going to have a say to stop medical cannabis dispensaries from coming about anywhere and everywhere in Florida if Amendment 2 passes in November, according to antagonists of the initiative. A pamphlet from Vote No On 2 recently sent out to the people of Florida states that the constitutional amendment stops any type of restrictions on the locations of cannabis-related businesses. The amendment gives doctors the ability to recommend medical cannabis for specific health conditions and patients to buy the drug from legal dispensaries.
“Because there’s no local option to allow communities to ban, limit or restrict the location of pot shops, if Amendment 2 passes you can expect the seedy elements of the pot industry to move in right next door to your neighborhood, your church, your business and even your child’s school,” the pamphlet warns.
Vote No On 2 is a campaign run by the Drug-Free Florida Committee, an anti-drug group founded in 2014. Some were curious about whether or not Amendment 2 stopped communities from banning dispensaries. To make a long story short, the amendment does not have any provisions for local legislation, however, that is only because the state would eventually be choosing whether or not local jurisdictions have that ability. If Amendment 2 passes, doctors would only recommend marijuana, because it’s illegal under federal law. Doctors could potentially risk losing their jobs if they prescribe the drug.
Pharmacies also are not allowed to legally distribute marijuana, making dispensaries vital. The proposed measure calls for the Legislature and the health department to find out the ins and outs of putting together a medical cannabis program if the initiative passes. This includes the amount of dispensaries and where they’re permitted to be. The amendment does not stop the state from letting local jurisdictions make their own rules.
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