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Temporary ban placed on sale of medical marijuana in St. Johns County

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Medical marijuana is legal in Florida after more than 70 percent of voters supported Amendment 2 on Election Day. But the board in St. Johns County is putting a halt on medical marijuana sales for now.

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The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners authorized a moratorium on the retail sale of medical marijuana within the county.

Commission members want to ensure that future dispensaries aren’t near children and they want to develop secure protocols before patients start buying their medicine.

The board authorized staff to continue zoning implementation, researching regulations and looking into the cost associated with these new protocols.

As for the Florida Department of Health, it has until July to come up with guidelines on how medical marijuana will be distributed and handled, then officials have until September to implement them.

As for residents in St. Johns County, the board doesn’t have a time for when patients can start buying their medicine in St. Johns.

Patients can still purchase medical marijuana from licensed dispensaries throughout the state.