Governments rightfully wary about marijuana dispensaries; too bad Old Jail no longer up for workforce housing

Pot precautions justified

Municipalities and counties across Florida are racing to adopt ordinances that place a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries. Smart move but possibly premature. The state has not established any regulations yet. And if history is any indication, the Legislature will supersede home rule once again. That, however, could be a good thing — if the rules are strict.

Nobody wants pot sellers near schools, churches, day care centers and anywhere a vulnerable population gathers. Like a homeless shelter. The overwhelming passage of the constitutional Amendment 2, with just over 70 percent of voters, well over the 60 percent threshold, does not legalize recreational cannabis, but the threat of resales has been a major point against the measure.

Local governments have plenty of time to act. Amendment 2 language clearly stated that the Florida Department of Health is required to set regulations on marijuana production and distribution centers and issue identification cards for patients and caregivers within six months of its effective day. The ballot summary states: “The Department of Health shall register and regulate centers that produce and distribute marijuana for medical purposes and shall issue identification cards to patients and caregivers” — within six months of the effective date. According to Florida’s Constitution, that date would be Jan. 3. Then the six-month clock starts ticking.

Knowing how the state stumbled badly on the Charlotte’s Web strain of non-euphoric medical marijuana, delaying implementation of the legislation —signed into law in 2014 — until just this year, Amendment 2 proponents served notice that dawdling would not be tolerated. People with the debilitating conditions outlined in the amendment are suffering now and should not have to wait.

So a 180-day moratorium, as the city of Bradenton is considering, should be enough once a final hearing is held on Dec. 14. Except for one place that appears to have beaten the clock on fulfilling zoning regulations within city limits for businesses distributing medical marijuana. Others could jump into the process. Here’s hoping that does not occur.

Old Jail padlocked

Manatee County’s Old Jail, a hulking, condemned high-rise in downtown Bradenton, apparently presents insurmountable security risks to the Judicial Center just a few yards away. The innovative idea to transform the empty building into rental units did not sit well with the legal community, which strongly objected to Manatee County’s plan to turn the building over to a private contractor for a conversion into workforce housing.

The city and county are desperate for workforce housing. Affordable and safe rental units are more than scarce, they’re next to impossible to find.

There should have been discussions about how to deal with the security issue, and finding a solution to all the concerns of law enforcement and judicial officials. That never occurred. Instead, a letter sent to Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker written by the legal community convinced the prospective developer, the Croghan Company, to void its proposal.

That’s a shame. No conversation, no nothing, just a deal-killer. What will happen to that building now? Is it a tear-down? With nothing to take its place?

Cheers to Bernard Croghan for advancing a visionary plan to create workforce housing for the millennial generation. Jeers to the legal powers that be for not engaging in a community conversation about the idea.

Quote of the Week

“A lot come in and they are just amazed to see this much bloom, this much color. I had one customer who took a picture and then did a painting and give it to us. A lot of people come back year after year after they see it for the first time.”

— Marty Orban, one of the owners of a Bradenton treasure, Orban’s Nursery, which has been delighting people for 23 years with an open house that this year will showcase 150,000 poinsettias for all for to see (and purchase). The Orban family donates a portion of the money on their sales to charity. The nursery is only open one day a year for retail sales. That day is today — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 9601 Ninth Ave. NW.

This story was originally published November 25, 2016 at 3:02 PM with the headline "Governments rightfully wary about marijuana dispensaries; too bad Old Jail no longer up for workforce housing."