Orange County leaders on Tuesday are coming up with rules for allowing medical marijuana to be cultivated, processed and dispensed in unincorporated areas of the county.
- Orange County leaders are trying to decide the best locations for dispensaries
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Even though voters approved medical marijuana last year, people still can not get it in Orange County because of a temporary moratorium approved by the county commission last year.
But that moratorium expires on May 23, and what is next is still up in the air.
Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs says that is why the commission will look at a draft ordinance on Tuesday at its commission meeting.
Jacobs says zoning will be key in determining where dispensaries are located.
“We’re looking at zoning classifications that would not normally be near schools and near residential communities,” said Mayor Jacobs.
County commissioners say they need to keep marijuana dispensaries away from schools, churches and theme parks.
“It doesn’t fit on I-Drive and some of our tourist destinations, it doesn’t fit around our churches, it doesn’t fit around our schools, so we just need to be very cognizant on where we allow the dispensers,” said Victoria Siplin, Orange County commissioner and the current vice mayor.
Other counties and cities have a similar moratorium, so the efforts in Orange County could influence other ordinances across Central Florida.
The county commission meeting starts at 9 a.m. Tuesday.