APOPKA, Fla. – The Apopka City Council voted Wednesday to go forward with a ban on medical marijuana dispensaries in the city, but one commissioner argued that the move would cost the city jobs.
The city enacted a moratorium on dispensaries that is scheduled to expire soon and the proposed ban would permanently prohibit the businesses from setting up shop in Apopka.
The council voted four to one to move forward with the ban, with only Commissioner Kyle Becker voting against it.
“This is an opportunity to create jobs for the city,” he argued.
Apopka police spoke at Wednesday’s meeting, saying that studies show dispensaries increase the amount of cars driving to and from retail shops.
The argument was also made that medical marijuana dispensaries were mainly cash only, which makes them targets for thieves.
Becker said that was not the case.
“They accept debit cards,” he said. “So it’s truly not an all-cash business. And their products range from $45 to $90.”
Derek Ryan with the Libertarian Party of Orange County is against the ban, saying Florida voters overwhelmingly approved of medical marijuana in the state.
“We believe it’s a freedom argument,” he said. “The upside is the voters get what they voted for, the free market gets to do its thing and people get medicine conveniently.”
The Apopka City Council will meet on Sept. 6, for the final vote on the proposed ban.
credit:wftv.com