COLLIER COUNTY, Fla — For the second time in the past two months, Collier County Commissioners voted down a proposal allowing medicinal marijuana dispensaries in the county.
Approval would have required a super majority vote, Commissioners Donna Fiala and Penny Taylor voted against the measure.
"It's always been about the zoning for me, always for me, never the value of what you take or the importance of it to your health," said Taylor.
She voted no because she's afraid an unlimited number of dispensaries would crop up under the new ordinance.
Supporters, including military veterans who rely on medical marijuana to help with certain ailments were disapointed.
"I do not appreciate the assertion that someone would support the troops, and at the same time, deny them access to medicine that could save their lives," William Tolp told Commissioners.
Lee and Miami-Dade Counties are the closet places patients can go to get marijuana.
Nick Garulay of My Florida Green, works with patients to help them find doctors who will prescribe marijuana. He says he'll make sure patients can still get it here locally, just not through a dispensary.
"We can get creative with facilitating orders, patients do come into our facility and place orders on our kiosks."
Garulay says he will continue to persuade the commissioners to change their mind.
