Winter Garden first in region to ban medical marijuana shops

Winter Garden, home to Knox Nursery, one of 17 medical marijuana growers sanctioned by the state, became the first city in Central Florida to ban cannabis dispensaries — but probably not the last.

Apopka, Maitland and Winter Park may vote next month on measures similar to the ban approved unanimously Thursday by Winter Garden city commissioners.

Winter Garden’s ordinance does not prevent residents from receiving prescription shipments at home or Knox from filling patient prescriptions through a delivery service for an additional cost.

City Manager Mike Bollhoefer said the action was intended to address zoning, not the efficacy of medical marijuana as an alternative medical treatment.

He said Winter Garden could change its stance later if the Legislature restores the city’s authority to zone and regulate dispensaries as it sees fit.

Bruce Knox, chief operations officer for Knox Medical, said he was disappointed the commission banned dispensaries and limited options for patients.

“There are so many in need,” he said.

Knox had hoped to open a dispensary in Winter Garden so that patients there wouldn’t have to drive 14 miles to the nearest shop in Orlando’s Ivanhoe Village.

In a special session, state lawmakers enacted rules earlier this year giving cities, counties and other local governments authority to ban the shops, but forbidding them from treating dispensaries differently than pharmacies.

That could pose a problem for cities where pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreen’s dot the busiest roads.

“Unfortunately the Florida Legislature left cities like Apopka with no option to customize a solution for dispensaries,” patients Apopka Mayor Kilsheimer said.

“The city’s staff and I have concluded that if all of our surrounding jurisdictions ban dispensaries, Apopka would become a haven for these facilities,” he added. “Therefore, I will recommend to our council that we adopt a similar ban.”

Apopka may take up issue next week.

Orlando put off a vote on a ban earlier this month. Mayor Buddy Dyer’s staff said more time was needed to study rules limiting a city’s authority to regulate dispensaries.

Florida law permits shops to dispense only non-euphoric cannabis in oil, vapor or edible forms to patients with a state-approved doctor’s prescription.

The medical marijuana amendment, which passed in November with 71 percent of the vote, legalized medical marijuana treatment for patients with cancer, chronic Joe the