Lady Lake commissioners are in favor of a moratorium for 180 days, temporarily banning medical marijuana dispensaries within the town limits.
While acknowledging that medical marijuana is legal as a result of last November’s vote, commissioners are wary of allowing dispensaries.
The topic was the subject of a commission workshop on Monday.
Police Chief Chris McKinstry warned of his experiences with pain medication clinics during his time in law enforcement in South Florida.
“We had 98 McDonald’s in Broward County and, by comparison, we had 140 pain clinics spring up,” he said.
The “pill mills” attracted undesirables from across the country and crime spiked with everything from prescription fraud to vehicle burglaries, he said.
Commissioners also heard from Lady Lake Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sue Kelly.
She said she had reached out to local doctors who favor a cautious approach.
“Once you turn on the faucet, you can’t turn it off,” she said.
The commission stopped short of a ban, but appeared to be open to that possibility in the future.
