Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
City votes on pot-business rules
HOLLYWOOD — If medical marijuana dispensaries are coming, Hollywood wants to make sure it controls when and where they operate.
Only two such centers would be allowed in Hollywood under rules that won unanimous approval Wednesday. Such businesses would only be allowed in two zones in north-central Hollywood, far from the beach and downtown.
The proposed rules ban drive-through and take-out service along with curbside pickup.
Businesses would be allowed to operate between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays, and 7 a.m. and noon on weekends.
To control the pungent smell associated with marijuana, businesses will be required to have air filtration and odor elimination filters and scrubber systems.
In November, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment that legalizes medical marijuana for patients with cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis and other related diseases.
Legislators have yet to create statewide guidelines regulating the industry and are expected to finalize rules in their upcoming session.
Fearing businesses might apply for conditional use permits when the amendment takes effect on Jan. 3, Wilton Manors has already put regulations in place ahead of the state’s rules.
Hollywood moved forward this week with its own set of restrictions.
The rules would take effect when commissioners take a final vote, likely in January.
Like Wilton Manors, Hollywood wants to prohibit dispensaries from opening too close to parks, schools and churches.
Hollywood plans to impose a 1,000-foot buffer from places of worship, schools, parks and day-care centers; and a 500-foot buffer from residential neighborhoods, pain clinics, social service facilities, substance abuse centers and pharmacies less than 9,000 square feet.
“I think we are being bold,” City Manager Wazir Ishmael said. “Many other cities have passed moratoriums and put it on hold and are waiting on the state to decide.”
Cities that have imposed temporary moratoriums on marijuana dispensaries include Coral Springs, Davie, Deerfield Beach, Hallandale Beach, Pompano Beach, Boca Raton and Delray Beach.
City Attorney Jeff Sheffel said Hollywood can always bring the ordinance back next year for tweaks or an outright overhaul once state guidelines are ironed out.
Mayor Josh Levy said restrictions should be set up now, even if they have to be changed later.
Commissioner Dick Blattner agreed.
“There is no perfect answer today on where to go with this,” Blattner said.
“I don’t want to nitpick this. What the Legislature is doing today on this could change everything. This is at least good. It’s not perfect. But I think we should go forward with the way it is.”