More smoke shops are opening in Florida and Wildwood commissioners Monday approved an ordinance to regulate them.
Development Services Director Melanie Strickland said the city now has about a half dozen smoke shops, up from one two years ago.
Smoke shops sell tobacco products, vaping devices and synthetic forms of marijuana and THC.
“We have noticed an influx of smoke shops,” Strickland said. “We want to distance these establishments from our kids.”
Existing smoke shops are exempted from the distance requirements.
Under the ordinance, new smoke shops must be 2,500 feet apart, 1,500 feet from parks or a city-owned public facility and 1,500 feet from churches, schools and licensed daycare centers.
Medical Marijuana Treatment Center Dispensing Facilities are not considered smoke shops.