Walton County Marijuana Moratorium Hearing 2/14/17

Who is behind this?

Is there an organized group one could join in opposition to this moratorium?

Larry is an EX Cop suffering from Parkinson's disease. Try telling him medical marijuana doesn't work for him! Tell him why the people of Florida voted to pass legislation making this legal and now suddenly some people want a moratorium on it. 71% of Florida voters voted to pass this bill.

Is there an organized group one could join in opposition to this moratorium?

My suggestion...show up to the BCC meeting!

www.facebook.com/flpanhandleprogressives/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf

Walton Co doesn't Enforce the rules and ordinances on the books currently, why waste time discussing and passing new ones, which will impeed people from now getting legal medicine?

Who is behind this?

Same thing is happening in other conservative counties. They are trying to circumvent the voters. Must. Stop. Evil. Drugs.

Win the war on meth first!

I suspect (don't know this for certain) this has more to do with seizure/forfeit monies than it does anything else. I agree this is just a stepping stone to circumvent the will of the voters.

I suspect (don't know this for certain) this has more to do with seizure/forfeit monies than it does anything else. I agree this is just a stepping stone to circumvent the will of the voters.

Ever try to find out just how much $ and private property the sheriff's office "seizes" and where the funds go???

Good Luck...It's quite the secret.

Ever try to find out just how much $ and private property the sheriff's office "seizes" and where the funds go???

Good Luck...It's quite the secret.

Honestly....No.

I actually think the Sheriff is a great Administrator and for the most part, captains a very good ship. I did see where the Schools in Walton County recently received individual checks for $5000.00 from seizure/forfeiture money and where some lost & found items were donated to the Boy Scouts that will help with merit badges etc. I'm sure there are other examples but my concern is this moratorium.

The people of Florida voted and I'm not happy with ANY Sheriff who would try to circumvent the will of the people. My concern is that any ordinance against medical marijuana would violate the Constitution of Florida and huge lawsuits would follow.

This was written by Liz Sinclair from the Defuniak Herald


By ELIZABETH SINCLAIR
In the November 2016 general election, Florida voters approved State Amendment 2, “The Compassionate Use Act.” Walton County approved it by over 70 percent. DeFuniak Springs voting precincts showed over 60 percent approval of the state statute change that would legalize cultivation, production and dispensing of medicinal cannabis.
On Jan. 23, the DeFuniak Springs City Council was presented with an ordinance that would establish a temporary moratorium on the amendment within the city limits.
The ordinance cites the need for determinations to be made by local governments as to how to they plan to control the growth and distribution. Included in the ordinance is the matter of marijuana being illegal under federal law.
Temporary is defined as “Beginning on the effective date of this Ordinance and continuing for a period of 240 days, or less if provided by an ordinance by the City Council.”
The ordinance would allow the city staff, including the planning department, to study the impact of medicinal marijuana activities on residents and businesses.
The council unanimously approved to proceed with the ordinance, which requires legal advertising and allows for public input.

According to the WCSO Information Officer "We have not given any statement in support of any moratorium on Medical Marijuana in Walton County."

Begs the question still, who is behind this???

According to the WCSO Information Officer "We have not given any statement in support of any moratorium on Medical Marijuana in Walton County."

Begs the question still, who is behind this???

Well, I agree.

If Adkinson can decide to Enforce or NOT Enforce his own Beach Trespass Policy, WHO (who, who ? ) is behind it?

BTW, what is our elected Sheriff's Opinion on this? Medical Cannabis or Rx Narcotics (Dr. Bob) ?

Hello everyone, Pot is rampant in Walton County, has been, will be, regardless of the law...

I spent the majority of my night on the phone with people trying to find out who actually presented this ordinance to the City Council and I'm sorta perturbed that when one City Council member was asked who presented it, they had no clue but yet voted unanimously to proceed with the ordinance pending public hearing and input.

I think the other issue is that the City doesn't seem to grasp the enormity of what they are "proceeding" to do. I literally had someone tell me, "My understanding it was passed in Florida but at the will of individual Counties (There choice implementing.)"

Say what?

This is a constitutional amendment that passed in the state of Florida. Individual Counties do NOT get to pick and choose what part of the Constitution they want to obey or which they want to ignore. That's not how the law works!

Then that same person tried to tell me, ""Florida voters approved Amendment 2 in November, but its implementation is up to the individual counties." So No clue...Apparently a loophole.."

Wrong again. There is no loophole and the law is very clear.

The Florida Constitution provides that unless otherwise specified, approved amendments become effective on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January following the election. As Amendment 2 did not provide specific effective dates, it went into effect on January 3, 2017. Amendment 2 required the Florida Department of Health to set regulations for the issuance of identification cards, qualifications and standards of care givers, and rules for the registration of medical marijuana treatment centers within six months of the effective date. The department released its proposed rules for regulating the medical marijuana industry on January 18, 2017. (The Florida Dept. Of Health.) Not the WCSO! NOT the City of DFS!

Neither the City nor the County can simply ignore the law because they don't like it or don't understand it. This is regulated by the State and the Fl Dept. Of Health. Six out of 28 dispensaries were approved by the Florida Department of Health to cultivate, process and dispense low-THC cannabis and medical cannabis after the passage of state constitutional Amendment 2 on Nov. 8. The closest dispensary is Modern Health Concepts in Miami. Neither DFS or Walton County is currently in ANY danger of being overrun by marijuana growers.

I've read that 80 municipalities in Florida that have passed temporary bans on dispensaries because communities feel an ordinance places some sort of control over where the medical marijuana can be dispensed, like liquor stores and bars restricted to certain hours. With the wealth of information available online I'm surprised that anyone is buying into that absurd notion and trying to pass ridiculous ordinances or moratoriums on something that hasn't even come to pass and is already regulated by the state. Are we that backward that we can't even read existing law?

Someone else mentioned to me tonight that this is "smoke and mirrors" to deflect away from current issues in both the City and County. From everything I've read that appears to be a true statement!

It seems my meth labs are safe, but how will this affect my grow houses?

How about my brother with epilepsy?

It seems my meth labs are safe, but how will this affect my grow houses?

LOL! You should be fine...till the Sheriff shows up at your door.

How about my brother with epilepsy?

Allegedly all this moratorium is about and the one DFS has already given a unanimous vote to (pending public input) is, to establish boundaries as to where the can operate and give them time to develop ordinances/codes. That's the short version. The long version is this moratorium can last as long as 240 days, 125 days short of a year. So, they are in essence saying "Not here!", even though Amendment 2 passed and all they are really doing is posturing. In effect if your brother has a medical marijuana card he isn't going to be buying his prescriptions here anytime soon but can always drive to Miami. The first time someone is denied a permit to grow based on Amendment 2 & licensed medical grow operations the lawsuits will follow.

Lawsuits are timely (they can last for years) and costly to the taxpayers. That's pretty sad if you consider 70% of the voters in the State of Florida voted FOR Amendment 2.

Last but certainly not least...I did find out this morning who presented the moratorium to the City of DFS...none other than Clayton Adkinson himself.

Oh the hypocrisy of it all! Should do a public records request on all conversation between himself and his nephew.

An 8-month hold on something an overwhelming majority of the county and state voted to make lawful. That's 8 more months people with limited mobility and means still need to depend on expensive, addictive opioids. WALTON COUNTY, MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!!!

I would bet many people in Walton County take legal prescription mind-altering drugs every day. And maybe a few people in the government. Might even be a majority.

8 months gives the BCC and County Officials plenty of time to figure out WHO (paid members of the Friends and Family Program), will be first in line to benefit from this.

Not just anyone is going to be able to open / run a dispensary in Walton.

My guess is the chosen few don't all have their paperwork, business plans, etc., together yet and need more time.

They'll use this time to also construct an agrument as to why these new business won't need that dreaded "business license", that is almost a standard anywhere else you go.

I'll need some Rx Cannabis just to get through the tourist season...

I would bet many people in Walton County take legal prescription mind-altering drugs every day. And maybe a few people in the government. Might even be a majority.

For the record the only medication I take that alters anything about me is Janumet which is a combination of metformin and sitagliptin that is used for reducing glucose levels in individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and occasionally Ibuprofen 800 for pain, Zyrtec for allergies, Breo Ellipta and a rescue inhaler.

I have no dog in the fight regarding medical marijuana EXCEPT that the majority of voters in Florida voted for its medicinal use to help cancer patients, Vets, PTSD, Multiple Sclerosis, HIV, nerve pain, Crohns Disease, Glaucoma, Alzheimer's, Arthritis pain, Epilepsy, Migraines, Hep C, Tourette syndrome, Psychological conditions and the terminally ill. The benefits of these drugs for patients far outweighs whatever hysterical propaganda the County is attempting to push with this moratorium and the majority of Floridians agree.

It is a stall tactic by the County to halt a Constitutional Ammendment that the Sheriff's Association of Florida is vehemently against saying "the legalization of marijuana would be contrary to the interests of the public health, safety and welfare, and would undermine the quality of life of the citizens of the state of Florida." www.flsheriffs.org/uploads/fsa%20medical%20marijuana%20resolution.pdf

I suspect however that if medicinal marijuana helped Type 1 juvenile diabetes (or even type 2) there would be no moratorium in Walton County! JMHO!

P.S. When did it become the job of the Sheriff or the Sheriff's Association of Florida to decide the quality of life for anyone suffering from life threatening diseases? Isn't that the business of the patient and the doctor?

www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/office-of-compassionate-use/

Amendment 2, and the expanded qualifying medical conditions, became effective on January 3, 2017. Section 381.986 F.S. remains in effect and the Florida Department of Health, physicians, dispensing organizations, and patients remain bound by existing law and rule. The Department is committed to quickly moving through the rule-making process to create a regulatory structure for Amendment 2. For information about the rule-making process, please click here.

It is the responsibility of the qualified ordering physician to follow Florida constitution and statute, diagnose patients and determine if medical marijuana is an appropriate treatment. In partnership with law enforcement, enforcement actions initiated by the department against patients, doctors and businesses will be focused on those operating outside the regulatory structure in Florida law.

The department recommends speaking to your health care professional to determine if low-THC or medical cannabis products are right for you or your loved one. List of Physicians Who Have Completed the Required Training.

Where in any of this information does it say the County is responsible?