Dave Berman

FLORIDA TODAY

Florida%27s law restricts legal marijuana to strains that are low in euphoria-inducing tetrahydrocannabinoL

A local pharmacist who wants to open two medical marijuana dispensaries in Brevard County plans to give county commissioners a lesson in the pot industry.

Eric Luzar, a resident of Satellite Beach, asked for a spot on Tuesday's County Commission agenda to discuss medical marijuana dispensary zoning and regulation.

Luzar said he and pharmacists from Fort Lauderdale, Naples and St. Petersburg have formed a business venture to open medical marijuana dispensaries around the state. Locally, he said, they are considering Merritt Island and Palm Bay as possible sites.

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Initially, Luzar said, the state will have dispensaries tied to approval of legislation this year allowing the use of a special strain of marijuana that is supposed to eliminate or dramatically reduce life-threatening seizures in children with severe epilepsy.

The law also allows patients who suffer from severe muscle spasms or cancer to be put on a "compassionate-use registry" for the product, as long as their doctors approve.

Florida's law restricts legal marijuana to strains that are low in euphoria-inducing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and high in cannabadiol, or CBD.

The bill allows physicians to start ordering this marijuana for medical use by their eligible patients on Jan. 1.

Separately, Florida voters in November will consider a constitutional amendment that would allow wider use of medical marijuana.

The proposed amendment would require the support of 60 percent of the voters who cast ballots for it to become law.

Luzar said he is not asking for anything particular from the county commissioners at this point.

"I'm basically giving them the background and starting a dialogue," Luzar said. "I'm trying to educate them."

Luzar said he has discussed the issue individually with several county commissioners, and found varying degrees of awareness about the current status of the state legislation related to medical marijuana.

Cindy Fox, Brevard County's planning and zoning manager, said staff in her department is informally monitoring developments in other communities related to zoning and other regulation tied to medical marijuana.

But she said the department has received no direction from the County Commission or the county manager's office on this issue.

The Cocoa Beach City Commission last month passed an ordinance that would regulate where medical marijuana dispensaries or treatment centers can open.

Under the city's rules, locations near the Cocoa Beach Pier, Ron Jon Surf Shop and Shepard Park were all that was left after city staff applied restrictions to force such operations to keep their distance from major roads, schools, churches and residences.

Florida's new law, known as the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014, was approved in the Florida Senate by a vote of 30-9 and in the Florida House by a vote of 111-7, then signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott.

Among legislators representing Brevard County, Reps. Steve Crisafulli, Tom Goodson and Ritch Workman voted yes. Voting no were Sens. Thad Altman and Andy Gardiner and Rep. John Tobia.

The Florida Department of Health today plans to hold a workshop in Tallahassee related to implementation of the new law statewide.

Florida is one of nearly two dozen states that permits some type of legal use of marijuana.

Dara Kam of The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.

Contact Berman at 321-242-3649 or dberman@floridatoday.com Follow him on Twitter at @ByDaveBerman

IF YOU GO

Brevard County Commission will hear Eric Luzar of Satellite Beach discuss the medical marijuana issue during its meeting that begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Brevard County Government Center, Commission Board Room, First Floor, Building C, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera. The item is near the end of a lengthy commission agenda.