SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — If you want to open a medical marijuana dispensary in Altamonte Springs, don’t expect to use those words in the name of your business.
The word "medical" is out. So is "marijuana."
The city of Altamonte Springs has passed an ordinance regulating the words that dispensary owners are allowed to use for their businesses. A total of 27 words were banned outright, along with synonyms for the words, similar words, variations of the words and illustrative graphics.
PDF: Regulations for dispensaries (Page 36)
The city took steps to regulate future dispensaries so it doesn’t have to play catch-up in the future, city manager Frank Martz said.
“It’s illegal federally, but it is legal in the state of Florida, and our city tried to get ahead of the issue,” he said. “By developing some regulations to control it within our community, we felt like we were really doing what the best thing for our community would be.”
Some have argued that the ban on certain words for business names is an intrusion on free speech, but Martz doesn’t see it that way.
“We’re all going to learn together how to make this work,” he said. “And I respect the First Amendment as much as anyone in this country.
“Trying to find a way to make what used to be illegal legal is a learning process for everyone.”
Florida just granted permits to five growers after legislation was passed to allow cultivation of non-euphoric marijuana for a very limited patient group. That group could grow next year with a proposed amendment on the November ballot.