Medical marijuana: An item on tonight’s meeting of the City Commission.

The Lake Worth City Commission meets tonight, 6:00, at City Hall. To look over the agenda click on this link and scroll down for “February 20th Regular Meeting”.

 Meet your elected leaders in the City of Lake Worth.

Amendment 2 approving medical marijuana passed County-wide in 2016 by nearly 75%. In our City of Lake Worth the result was 79.02%, the 3rd highest result in all of Palm Beach County.

Agenda item 10B on the Commission
agenda next week is below.

But first, here is a short recap. The critics of Amendment 2 still contend lamely this vote in 2016 was just a majority. Wrong. It passed by a super-majority state-wide, a much higher standard.

And of course by now most people are aware of that charter school that is opposed to a nearby medical marijuana dispensary on N. Dixie Hwy. in this City. That particular elementary school just happens to be next to a convenience store that sells cigarettes and beer and also close by is a restaurant that sells alcohol. But anyhow. . .

On August 28th last year the editor(s) at The Palm Beach Post decided to chime in and make the case a medical marijuana dispensary shouldn’t be permitted near an elementary charter school on the opposite side of Dixie Hwy. That attempt at trying to reshape public opinion failed in spectacular fashion. And maybe that’s why the Post, for almost 6 months now, hasn’t published any more editorials about our City government and administration.

However, in just twenty-one days is Election Day, so stay tuned as they say.

Please note: Ordinance No. 2018-04 “extending the Moratorium on all approvals related to Medical Marijuana for a period of 6 months” does not apply to marijuana dispensaries already in operation within the municipal limits of the City of Lake Worth. Second reading of this agenda item will be on March 6th at the City Commission.

Do you receive the City of Lake Worth’s “Worth Noting” email newsletter? If not, it only takes a few seconds to become a subscriber.

To watch this meeting Live Streaming next week click on and save this link. Here is agenda item 10B:

Department: City Attorney

Executive Brief Title: Ordinance No. 2018-04 - First Reading - extending the Moratorium on all approvals related to Medical Marijuana for a period of 6 months and setting the second reading and public hearing for March 6, 2018.

Background and Justification: On March 21, 2017, the City Commission adopted Ordinance No. 2017-05 to establish a moratorium on applications, confirmation letters, business licenses, development orders and permits involving uses relating to medical marijuana.
     This moratorium went into effect on March 31, 2017 and will expire on March 31, 2018.
     Due to issues that have arisen regarding the appropriateness and regulation of such uses and the possibility of further regulations being imposed by the State, a moratorium extension is provided herein to allow the City more time to study the issues and bring their resolution back to the Commission for consideration.

MOTION: I move to approve/not approve on first reading Ordinance No. 2018-04 placing a six month extension on the existing one year moratorium.