The debate over the future of marijuana in Lake Worth Beach intensifies as city commissioners consider revisiting the issue of medical dispensaries and their prospective place in a community grappling with the implications of potential recreational use. Back in 2018, a decisive 4-1 vote had established a cap of just two medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits, a regulation put forth shortly after Florida legalized medical marijuana. According to WPTV, this move aimed to control the burgeoning sector based on population needs and expectations.
William Waters, Lake Worth Beach’s Community Sustainability Director, has outlined the commission’s current position, asserting the intent to “preempt the ability for recreational marijuana to be sold in the city.” He emphasized the statutes already in place, limiting the city to house no more than two dispensaries. They have, for now, made the decision to not increase this number, a regulation that waters into the domain of city planning and control. “We’ve made any further expansion of those dispensaries non-conforming or illegal, so we’ll only ever have two dispensaries,” Waters told WFLX.
The current commission is considering an ordinance that would impose additional regulations on these dispensaries. The drive for this added control reflects concerns about the possible effects of marijuana on the Lake Worth Beach populace. This ordinance is forward-looking, potentially laying the groundwork for the city’s stance should Florida one day legalize recreational marijuana. Yet, the recent failure of an amendment proposing the legalization of recreational marijuana in Florida has not deterred the commission from seeking to seal off this avenue proactively.
Despite the stance to guard against recreational marijuana commerce, the commission’s decisions are not set in stone. Waters explained that there is room to reverse the ban on dispensaries via public hearings, a process requiring widespread consultation. “If a commission wanted to reverse our current standing, they can always change through the public hearing process, it takes four public hearings to do it, one before each of our advisory boards, and then two before the city commission,” Waters stated to WPTV.
The commission’s next move is to approve or disapprove the proposed ordinance in an upcoming meeting scheduled for today. This will be followed by a public hearing on January 21, where residents will have the opportunity to directly engage with the issue, share their perspectives, and influence the direction of policymaking in Lake Worth Beach regarding the contentious topic of marijuana use and commerce. The upcoming decisions could shape the landscape of marijuana regulation in the city for years to come.
H?T: hoodline.com
