You Can't Build a Cannabis Dispensary until January 2017

City of Orlando has a temporary moratorium on cannabis dispensaries until January 1, 2017. We shared the basics below. Or you can read the whole thing yourself. 

Ordinance No. 2016-58 imposes a temporary moratorium on the opening of certain new cannabis dispensing facilities until January 1, 2017, and requires that the planning official recommend permanent land development regulations for cannabis dispensing facilities by December 1, 2016.

Beginning on the effective date of this ordinance and continuing through December 31, 2016, or sooner if provided pursuant to section 4 of this ordinance, a moratorium is hereby imposed on the opening of new cannabis dispensaries and low-THC cannabis dispensaries and on the expansion or relocation of existing cannabis dispensaries and low-THC cannabis dispensaries.
  1. During the moratorium, it is unlawful and a violation of this ordinance for any person, firm, or corporation to open or cause to be opened any cannabis dispensary or low-THC cannabis dispensary within the City of Orlando, except that low-THC cannabis dispensaries already approved by official determination of the city zoning official may open and conduct business in accordance with the official determination. 
  2. During the moratorium, it is unlawful and a violation of this ordinance for any person, firm, or corporation to relocate or cause to be relocated any cannabis dispensary or low-THC cannabis dispensary within the City of Orlando. 
  3. During the moratorium, it is unlawful and a violation of this ordinance for any person, firm, or corporation to expand or cause to be expanded any cannabis dispensary or low-THC cannabis dispensary within the City of Orlando. For purposes of this subsection, the term “expand” means to “enlarge the physical size of.” 
The temporary moratorium imposed by section 3 of this ordinance expires as of the earliest of the following occurrences:
  1. January 1, 2017; or 
  2. A date before January 1, 2017, if provided by ordinance of the Orlando City Council. 
The planning official is hereby directed to study, develop, and recommend land development regulations for cannabis dispensaries and low-THC cannabis dispensaries in the City of Orlando, with such recommendations being delivered to the Orlando City Council by no later than December 1, 2016.

Illustration Credit