TUESDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: The measure passed by a 5-0 vote.

PREVIOUS STORY: Add another medical marijuana battle to the list. 

  • Polk commission votes on medical marijuana dispensaries
  • Patrons would be able to get medical pot like a prescription
  • Vote scheduled for Tuesday

Today, the matter of where patrons can buy it comes to Polk County. 

County commissioners are expected to vote on where dispensaries are allowed to open up. 

If the measure being voted on today passes, Polk County residents will be able to acquire medical marijuana as easy as picking up a prescription.

Recently, Polk commissioners voted 5-0 to follow the state legislature's guidelines allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in the same zoning as pharmacies. 

The discussion started back in May, when the same commissioners proposed rules that would only allow dispensaries in large retail areas and shopping districts. 

At that time, Commissioner Bill Braswell told the Lakeland Ledger that the commission did not want medical marijuana dispensaries popping up in neighborhoods. 

But now, commissioners seemed to have a change of heart with their unanimous vote allowing dispensaries to open in the same areas as traditional pharmacies in unincorporated Polk County. 

However, no dispensaries are popping up just yet.

Right now, they're expected to start opening in Polk County in the fall.