TO: Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Samuel A. May, City Manager
DATE: March 7, 2018
Title
CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE TO BAN MEDICAL MARIJUANA TREATMENT CENTERS AND DISPENSARIES.
BACKGROUND: On November 8, 2016, Florida voters approved Amendment 2, to legalize medical marijuana. On June 23, 2017, Governor Rick Scott signed Senate Bill 8A, providing for regulation of medical marijuana. This bill provides that local governments may either ban medical marijuana treatment centers and dispensaries, or regulate them in the same way the local government regulates pharmacies. The City of Margate has enacted and extended a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries until April 6, 2018. The City Commission discussed regulating this use at the November 1, 2017 meeting. The City Commission held a workshop to discuss this topic on December 11, 2017. The City Commission passed a resolution instructing staff to draft an ordinance to ban medical marijuana treatment centers and dispensaries at a special meeting, held on December 18, 2017.
RECOMMENDATION: The Development Review Committee (DRC) approved this item at the DRC meeting held on January 9, 2018. An excerpt from the draft copy of the meeting minutes is attached. At the February 6, 2018 Planning and Zoning Board, City Attorney Julie Klahr advised that the City Commission had already established a policy on this topic with the approval of Resolution 17-160 and therefore there was no reason for the Planning and Zoning Board to make a recommendation on the item. A draft copy of the meeting minutes is attached.
FISCAL IMPACT: N/A
CONTACT PERSON: Reddy Chitepu, Acting Director of Economic Development/DEES