LIVE OAK, Fla. — The Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners discussed the different options on handling medical marijuana dispensing facilities and medical marijuana treatment centers in the county at Tuesday’s meeting.

The county had a temporary moratorium on the acceptance of and processing of new applications for the establishment of medical marijuana dispensing facilities and medical marijuana treatment centers.

The moratorium came after the passing of a state amendment that allows the use of medical marijuana for individuals with a debilitating medical condition.

According to County Attorney Jimmy Prevatt, the county needed to basically decide whether to ban medical marijuana dispensing facilities and medical marijuana treatment centers or not.

He said that they are to be treated and located in the same fashion as a pharmacy.

The four zoning areas that the county’s Land Development Regulations allows for pharmacies are commercial neighborhood, commercial intensive, commercial general and commercial shopping center.

One of the options Prevatt presented to the commissioners is to change the Land Development Regulations to not allow pharmacies in commercial neighborhood areas.

The other options were to ban the medical marijuana dispensing facilities and medical marijuana treatment centers, do nothing or extend the moratorium and see if the state has more guidance after the legislative session.

Prevatt said the only restriction on the placement of medical marijuana dispensing facilities and medical marijuana treatment centers is that they must be 500 feet from a private or public school.

The commissioners authorized Prevatt to start working on changing the Land Development Regulations to not allow pharmacies in commercial neighborhood zoning areas.

The Works

The commissioners authorized a business incentive program with The Works at Tuesday’s meeting.

According to Economic Development Director Alvin Jackson, The Works is a manufacturer of structural products with a capital investment of $4,319,000.

Jackson said The Works is expanding the site with an additional 50,000 square feet and will have an impact of 150 jobs.

According to Jackson, the project is eligible for four years rebate of ad valorem tax on capital improvements and tangible personal property.

Jackson said the maximum possible incentive is $96,282 and will consist of seven annual installments of $13,745.57

Working Forest Week

The commissioners passed a resolution proclaiming the week of Oct. 16-21 “Working Forest Week.”

Paul Williams, Senior Forester of Suwannee County, thanked the commissioners for creating and passing the resolution.

The resolutions states that Florida forest and forest relates industries are vital fro today’s living and tomorrow’s needs.

“Florida’s working forests generate more than $16 billion in economic activity annually, provide jobs for 80,000 Floridians and provide material fore more than 5,000 types of consumer goods,” the resolution reads.