This item was heard and read into the record on First Reading on February 7, 2017, by the Town Council. On February 21, 2017, the Planning and Zoning Board, acting in their capacity as the Town's Local Planning Agency, heard the item and voted 4-0 recommending adoption of the ordinance to this Council. The remainder of this memorandum is as it was originally submitted at First Reading on February 7, 2017.

On November 8, 2016, Florida voters approved Amendment 2, titled “Use of Marijuana for Debilitating Medical Conditions”; which fully legalized the medical use of marijuana throughout the State for individuals with specified “debilitating” conditions, and authorized cultivation, processing, distribution, and sale of marijuana and related activities by licensed “Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers”.

Pursuant to Section 381.986(8) of the Florida Statutes, a municipality may determine by ordinance the criteria for the number and location of, and other permitting requirements that do not conflict with state law for dispensing facilities of dispensing organizations located within its municipal boundaries and since the Town's Land Development Regulations do not currently contain provisions for the regulation of marijuana dispensing organizations and marijuana treatment centers, a moratorium would allow time for appropriate legislation to be drafted, considered, and adopted to address these new uses. The attached ordinance would impose a 6-month moratorium on the establishment of marijuana dispensing organizations and

marijuana treatment centers with the Town.

Many jurisdictions across Florida have adopted, or are in the process of adopting, moratoria on this issue in order to similarly comply with State Statutes.