Citrus County Planning and Development Commission rejects marijuana dispensary ban – chronicleonline.com
A variety of cannabis dispensaries and medical marijuana clinics are located throughout Citrus County. Green Dragon Cannabis has two locations. The PDC rejected supporting a ban of medical marijuana dispensaries within the unincorporated area of the county.
A variety of cannabis dispensaries and medical marijuana clinics are located throughout Citrus County. Green Dragon Cannabis has two locations. The PDC rejected supporting a ban of medical marijuana dispensaries within the unincorporated area of the county.
The Citrus County Planning and Development Commission balked Thursday at a proposal to ban new medical marijuana treatment centers in unincorporated areas, calling the idea vague, premature and unsupported by evidence, even as the County Commission pushes the plan forward.
After nearly an hour of questions and uneasiness over the idea, the PDC voted to recommend denial of the ordinance on a 4-2 vote. Citrus County commissioners will ultimately decide whether to outlaw new dispensaries.
The ordinance stems from an Aug. 26 motion by County Commissioner Jeff Kinnard, which the board approved 4-1, with Commissioner Holly Davis opposed, to direct staff to draft a ban. Under state law, counties must either treat medical marijuana treatment centers the same as pharmacies or prohibit them entirely. They cannot limit them by zoning category or cap their number.
Planning director Joanna Coutu reminded the PDC board that Citrus County chose the pharmacy-equivalent approach in 2017, when the state created the medical marijuana system.
“We either treat them exactly like pharmacies with no additional standards, or we completely outright ban them,” Coutu said. “Those are the only two options we have.”
Eight licensed medical marijuana treatment centers now operate in Citrus County, six inside city limits and two in the unincorporated area. The new ordinance would not close or relocate those two; instead, they would become nonconforming uses that could not expand.
Chairman Richard Barmes struggled with the logic behind the proposal.
“It just seems too vague to me,” Barmes said. “It’s like you’re banning something or banning somebody’s business or opportunity. I don’t know if it really helps people or if it doesn’t, but somebody convinced the state it helps people. For me to say I’m not going to allow facilities here that are helping somebody, that’s really hard.”
Commissioner Robert Sharra questioned why the PDC was being asked to change the land development code before the County Commission made its case.
“This appears to be a policy decision for the county,” Sharra said. “I think we’re getting the cart before the horse. I struggle with supporting this without understanding what problem we’re trying to solve.”
He also noted that medical marijuana treatment centers are “a heavily regulated industry” under state statute.
Vice Chair David Bramblett said the ban felt reactionary.
“It feels kind of footloose to me,” Bramblett said. “I don’t like bans, especially when you’ve already allowed some in and then you say, ‘Well, now we’re closing it off.’ It’s 2025, federal regulations are changing. Never is a long time.”
Not everyone opposed the ban.
Commissioner Kurt Stone said he supported prohibiting new dispensaries because of how they appear in the community.
“I don’t know anything about medical marijuana, but I know it gives a seedy appearance to the community it’s in,” Stone said. “It’s like pornography shops … you don’t necessarily want to look at it every day.”
Commissioner Jenette Collins, who previously dealt with the same issue on the Crystal River City Council, reminded the board that cities already have the same legal constraints as counties.
“The statute is very clear, you either treat it as a pharmacy or you don’t allow them at all,” Collins said. Crystal River ultimately chose to prohibit additional dispensaries several years ago, she added. “They felt for a city that size, that was enough.”
Bramblett motioned for denial and Commissioner Michael Facemyer seconded. Facemyer said he sympathized with residents who rely on medical marijuana for relief.
“I know people who rely on it,” he said. “Right now I’m coming down on keeping it the way it is.”
The motion passed with Stone and Collins voting no.
The ordinance now proceeds to the Board of County Commissioners for public hearings and a final decision.
Mike Arnold can be reached at mike.arnold@chronicleonline.com or 352-564-2929, ext. 429.
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