OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL

CHERYL L. BROWN 117 WEST DUVAL STREET, SUITE 425

DIRECTOR 4^TH FLOOR, CITY HALL

OFFICE (904) 630-1452 JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32202

FAX (904) 630-2906

E-MAIL: CLBROWN@coj.net

AMENDED LUZ COMMITTEE WORKSHOP MINUTES

October 6, 2015

4:00 p.m.

City Council Chamber

1^st Floor, City Hall

117 West Duval Street

Attendance: Council Members Scott Wilson (Chair), Lori Boyer, Danny Becton (arr. 4:21), Aaron Bowman, Katrina Brown, Jim Love, and Joyce Morgan

Also: Council Members Anna Lopez Brosche and Sam Newby; Mike Bruno – Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office; Lisa King, Daniel Blanchard, and Tony Robbins – Planning Commission; Folks Huxford, Bruce Lewis and Kristen Reed – Planning and Development Department; Susan Grandin – Office of General Counsel; Philip Zamarron – Legislative Services Division; Yvonne Mitchell – Council Research Division

Chairman Wilson called the combined meeting between the LUZ committee and Planning Commission to order at 4:05 p.m.

low-THC “Charlotte’s Web” Marijuana

Ms. Holly Mosley shared her daughter has intractable epilepsy and how important it is that Florida has the low-THC cannabis for treatment of children. The Moseley family traveled from the Pensacola area to Colorado and talked to parents of epileptic children whose seizures have been reduced or eliminated after treating them with oil from a marijuana strain known as "Charlotte's Web,” which is named for Charlotte Figi, the epileptic girl originally helped by the oil in 2012. The family had considered relocating to Colorado but instead began the fight to legalize the specific strain of marijuana in Florida.

Mr. David Loop, owner of Loop’s Nursery & Greenhouses, provided a thorough review of state requirements in regards to cultivating, processing and dispensing the medication along with his plans in the location of the various facilities, if awarded the contract. The nursery started in 1949 by Mr. Loop’s father and encompasses about 650,000 square feet of greenhouse production space. Loop’s Nursery & Greenhouse is one of five applicants seeking the license and certification for the low-THC. The northeast region of the state will have one dispensary in Jacksonville and Gainesville. Mr. Loop’s estimation of usage in Jacksonville will be about 10 patients per day (receiving 60 day supply) at the dispensary location after a year of operation. There will be a full time chemist and medical doctor.

Ms. Grandin recommended that committee draft legislation to include a definition of low-THC (.8% of THC and greater than 10% CBD) would be beneficial overall in benchmarking what is permissible. The “Charlotte’s Web” is a cross between a cannabis and hemp plants. Mr. Loop explained that the State regulations will be very strict in regards to the growing (air, noise, odor, etc.), security, employees, delivery and all other intense purposes.

Actions:

Motion/2^nd move to prepare draft ordinance to limit dispensary and processing facilities (one per Planning District, at least one mile apart) in CCG-1, CCG-2, IL and IBP categories with locational criteria; a dispensary facility only permissible in CCG-1 and CCG-2; and cultivating facility permissible in AGR. – Boyer/Love

LUZ Committee voted 7-0

Planning Commission voted 3-0

Motion/2^nd – move to include definition of low-THC (.8% of THC and greater than 10% CBD) as permissible and a definition depicting what is not permissible – Love/Boyer

LUZ Committee voted 7-0

Planning Commission voted 3-0

Assignment:

Ms. Grandin will forward the draft legislation prior to the next scheduled workshop on October 19^th to allow members time to review document.

There being no further business, the workshop was adjourned at 4:54 p.m.

Yvonne P. Mitchell, Council Research Division (904) 630-1679

Posted 10.09.15 10:00 a.m.