Orange County discusses ban of medical marijuana dispensaries Tuesday

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A public hearing was ongoing Tuesday afternoon as the Orange County Commission prepared to debate whether to allow medical marijuana dispensaries to open shop.

Florida voters voted overwhelmingly to make medical marijuana legal in the state, but many local governments have been stonewalling efforts to establish dispensaries.

Because their designation would allow dispensaries to set up anywhere a pharmacy can, a number of municipalities have taken steps to ban them outright.

The Orange County Commission was set to consider two ordinances Tuesday -- one that would allow dispensaries, and another that would ban them.

Residents attended a public hearing held before the Commission's regular session to express support, or opposition, to a dispensary ban.

John Butler Book supports banning medical marijuana dispensaries in Orange County.

"There are some areas in this bill that are very weak, which, I think, will lead to an increase in the use of drugs," he said.

Related stories:

Florida's medical marijuana amendment overwhelmingly approved by voters

John Morgan sues Florida over medical marijuana smoking ban

Florida Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, though, argued in favor of allowing dispensaries, saying there are people with a legitimate need for medical marijuana who would be the ones who suffered.

"This will have a direct impact on patient access and affordability," he said.

Cox Media Group