Sarasota City Commissioners unanimously voted on Tuesday, January 16 to change four zoning codes – downtown core, commercial general area, commercial shopping center-regional, and intensive commercial district zones will be able to be used by medical marijuana dispensaries. A second vote is scheduled on February 5, which is expected to also pass. This decision will allow dispensaries to be built in the same zoning as free-standing pharmacies, so the city can regulate where dispensaries set up shop and how many will be allowed to. Florida legalized the use of medical marijuana in 2016, and it has thus far generally had positive effects, enabling patients suffering from conditions such as cancer, epilepsy, PTSD, and glaucoma a source of safe and effective relief.

To learn more about this decision, read Chris Anderson’s article on the Herald Tribune.