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CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — Citrus County leaders weighed a proposal to ban the opening of additional medical marijuana dispensaries, less than three weeks after the county’s Land Development Division introduced the ordinance on the subject.
The measure was initially voted down by the Planning and Development Commission, but the final decision headed to the county commission and was unanimously overturned, 5-0.
The review happened after public comment on Tuesday night at the Citrus County Courthouse.
Two different speakers said they fear more medical dispensaries could impact juvenile marijuana usage and gives poor impressions to visitors, according to conversations shared during the meeting.
The proposal comes as at least three dispensaries already operate in Inverness, serving what cannabis physicians describe as a steady stream of patients.
“We have a lot of retirees down here, older folks have sleep issues and arthritic issues. Younger folks have anxiety issues and depression issues,” said Dr. Nicholas Kurz, who oversees The Grumpy Boston Medical Marijuana Dispensary. “Life is loud right now. Life can be noisy so it’s a nice way to quiet things down.”
Kurz said medical cannabis has become particularly helpful for veterans, who receive a 50% discount at his dispensary, and for patients seeking alternatives to prescription painkillers.
“You can regulate the dose. You can have it in your tool bag and use it as life throws you curve balls like surgery,” Kurz said. “You can have the surgery and use it for pain or sleep and not have to use narcotics.”
Dr. Scott Redrick of Citrus Medical Marijuana Clinic in Crystal River said he was relieved to see the ordinance initially rejected by the Planning and Development Commission on Nov. 20, citing concerns about economic harm.
“The consumer is the one that gets hurt. They get hurt with higher prices and poorer quality,” Redrick said. “The competition is good in a free market economy. If they limit the competition, it reduces the incentive for the dispensaries already here to provide quality service and good prices.”
The discussion comes as the broader question of recreational marijuana may return to Florida voters in 2026, pending the advancement of a statewide proposed amendment.