St. Lucie County A Melbourne consulting company wants to open the first medical marijuana dispensaries on the Space and Treasure coasts.
Michael Patterson, CEO of U.S. Cannabis Pharmaceutical Research Development, wants to open Florida Apothecary in Brevard and St. Lucie counties to sell medical marijuana.
Patterson on Thursday addressed the St. Lucie County Planning and Zoning Board, which was discussing placing a year moratorium on accepting applications for dispensaries. Staff said they need time to write new land development regulations on dispensary locations and to properly advertise the new rules and get public feedback.
Florida voters on Nov. 8 passed Amendment 2, which legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. State law allows medical marijuana to be prescribed for cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, post-traumatic stress disorder, ALS, Crohns disease, Parkinsons disease and multiple sclerosis. The law also allows doctors to certify patients who have other debilitating medical conditions, similar to those on the list, who could benefit from marijuana.
The state Department of Health has until July to revise existing laws governing dispensaries and until September to implement them. The state has issued licenses to seven dispensaries, according to the state health department website.
Patterson wants to grow and process the marijuana in a greenhouse structure in western St. Lucie County, then ship it to stores in St. Lucie and Brevard counties. It would be produced either in a pill form similar to a fish oil capsule, Patterson said or in liquid drops.
We want to be the premier provider for medical marijuana on the Space and Treasure coasts, said Patterson, a licensed nursing-home administrator who has spent 20 years managing medical facilities.
Patterson said the U.S. Cannabis Pharmaceutical Research Development would apply for the license and the medical marijuana would be dispensed from Florida Apothecary However, the development company has yet to apply and receive a state license to dispense medical marijuana.
Patterson said he chose the Space and Treasure coasts because other companies are focusing on larger Florida cities, and the area has a higher concentration of older residents who would benefit from the medicine.
I dont think it is fair to the residents of the Treasure Coast and Space Coast to ask them to drive to Orlando or Miami or Tampa to get help for serious medical conditions, Patterson said.
The Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday approved having a moratorium in place until July 1. The issue will go before the County Commission in February.
Planning and Zoning Board member James Clasby said a six-month moratorium is ample time for staff to write a new code.
"We don’t want to miss out on a potential business coming to our county," Clasby said. "We had 71 percent of Florida voters and 72 percent of St. Lucie County voters (who) voted in favor of this amendment. We (the county) do need time to plan, but we also don’t want to miss out."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: St. Lucie, Brevard Counties Eyed For Area’s First Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
Author: Keona Gardner
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