Medical-marijuana dispensary indefinitely scraps plan to open in St. Lucie County

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — A medical-marijuana dispensary has indefinitely scrapped its plans to open here.

Trulieve, which operates dispensaries around the state, on Wednesday notified the county it would “hold off” opening its dispensary at 8613 U.S. 1 in the Crowne Plaza shopping center, across from the Savanna Club.

Officials of the Clearwater-based company, who initially said they would open by July, declined to say why they are indefinitely delaying opening a dispensary in St. Lucie County.

Trulieve had applied for county permits, and had received all its approvals except for St. Lucie County Fire District, said county planner Bethany Grubbs.

Trulieve has dispensaries in Clearwater, Miami, Pensacola, Tallahassee and Tampa, according to its website. They sell medical marijuana in cream, oil, capsule and vapor forms to patients with prescriptions from state-approved physicians.

Business owners in the Crowne Plaza shopping strip said they would have welcomed the dispensary.

“Businesses are there for the people to use,” said Raul Rangel, owner of Janett Hair Salon. “Who am I to say this company or this person is not allowed to make a living?"

If Trulieve decides again to pursue a location in St. Lucie County, it would need to reapply, Grubbs said.

No other dispensaries have applied to open in unincorporated St. Lucie County, Grubbs said.

Trulieve's announcement comes about two weeks before the County Commission is expected to pass revised dispensary rules that would follow state law. Dispensaries would be permitted wherever pharmacies are permitted.

Port St. Lucie added medical-marijuana dispensaries to its zoning code in August and regulates them the same way, as it does pharmacies.

The Fort Pierce City Council held a medical-marijuana workshop in August, but has taken no action.

Indian River County and Vero Beach have banned dispensaries altogether, but Truelieve got approval for a dispensary in Vero Beach before that city's ban went into effect. It is expected to open early next year, a company spokeswoman said.