A recent poll insists that Americans believe that marijuana is less harmful than opioids in pain relief, but are considerably less comfortable with children and pregnant women using the plant to treat their medical conditions. Two-thirds of the respondents in the telephone conducted survey reportedly believe opioid drugs like Vicodin or OxyContin to be "riskier" to use than marijuana, even when prescribed by a doctor. Though doctors technically won't write a prescription for cannabis to treat pain or other ailments, most states that offer legal medical marijuana require patients to obtain a doctor's written recommendation to treat their conditions with the plant. Wochit
Fort Myers representatives clarified at a city council meeting that the city is not trying to block medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.
Despite this proclamation two weeks ago, the City Council voted 4-2 Tuesday night to temporarily ban medical marijuana dispensaries at least until July 1, according to NBC-2.
Florida law allows dispensaries to be treated like pharmacies in city uses, and municipalities can either allow that or ban them altogether. City council imposed a six-month prohibition in December on medical marijuana dispensaries opening within city limits. The temporary ban ends July 1.
Mayor Randy Henderson said the council is "not on a pathway of not allowing" medical marijuana dispensaries; they're gathering information.
"We're going through a legal process to help us understand how we're to do this, where we're to do this," Henderson said. "The efforts tonight are aimed at getting it right."
Ward 4 council member Michael Flanders questioned the role of the city in regulating medical marijuana dispensaries when Florida voters opted for this at a state level.
Assistant City Attorney Terry Cramer said the moratorium is a delay to allow the Legislature to work out the role cities will play in regulating dispensaries.
"Right now, all we can do is we can allow them, and we have to treat them like pharmacies, or we can ban them," Cramer said.
Ward 3 council member Terolyn Watson said her family members benefited from medical marijuana when illness left them without appetites.
"If it's something medically-needed — that's what it is," Watson said. "I know I want to see my mom happy in her last days."
Just one resident offered comments on the potential ban, saying his friends with injuries and illnesses benefited from using medical marijuana. He said his wife could also benefit from it now, and that a ban would limit her options.
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