Delray Beach has banned medical marijuana dispensaries, but the city will revisit its decision in a year.
The ban extends a yearlong moratorium the city has had in place since last September.
Under the new rules, residents still are able to use and carry medical marijuana. They just can’t buy it in Delray Beach — legally anyway. City commissioners unanimously approved the measure Tuesday night.
The decision came after Commissioner Mitch Katz opted to vote for the measure as long as it said the city would re-evaluate the ordinance in a year after seeing how other cities deal with dispensaries.
Nancy Sklarew, 75, of Delray Beach, has a prescription for medical marijuana, but has to drive down to Miami to fill it. She said she doesn’t like the idea of delivery because she has to be home to sign for the medication, she said.
“What I’m just looking for is, as soon as possible, finding something closer than Miami where I can get my prescription filled.”
Perhaps the closest destination for her to pick up her marijuana would be Lake Worth, where Knox Medical plans to open a dispensary as early as next month.
Delray Beach resident Evan Ostrager, 25, said he’s in favor of medical marijuana and wants dispensaries in the city, but understands Delray’s decision.
“I feel that they’re kind of justified in doing that since there are very little rules right now,” he said. “I think to wait and see what other cities are doing is a smart decision.”
The first time the vote came before the city, commissioners voted 3-2 in support of the ban in early September, as residents prepared for Hurricane Irma to make landfall in Florida.
Commissioner Jim Chard, who previously voted against the ban, said he still supports medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.
“I think there is no point in sort of falling on your sword when you can’t get a majority and when it does have a termination date,” Chard said.
Ahead of the vote, Delray’s public safety officials said dispensaries could increase their call volume and would be an necessary burden on the city’s police and fire departments.
“It’s very new and to add another element to our community would be tough on us,” said Delray Beach Police Chief Jeff Goldman.
Delray City Attorney R. Max Lohman also recommended the ban, saying state lawmakers made it difficult to regulate dispensaries at a local level because they required pot shops to be regulated like pharmacies.
No one from the public spoke out against the ban at the city meeting. However, more than 75 percent of Delray residents voted in favor of medical marijuana last November.
credit:sun-sentinel.com
