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Commission allows medical‑marijuana dispensary within 500 feet of private school on Blanding Boulevard
Summary
After a public hearing and legal discussion about the statutory 500‑foot prohibition, the board voted 4–1 to approve a requested dispensary at 999 Blanding Boulevard, finding the location promotes public health, safety and general welfare under statute and precedent.
The Clay County Board of County Commissioners voted 4–1 to approve a conditional exception allowing a medical marijuana treatment center to locate at 999 Blanding Boulevard within 500 feet of the Christian Home Academy, a private school. Staff briefed the board on statutory requirements that permit the county to authorize a location within the 500‑foot setback if the board determines the siting “promotes the public health, safety, and general welfare.”
Agent and applicant Josh Cockrell argued the facility’s tenant space to the school property line measures close to but under the 500‑foot measure when taken by certain interpretations, and he said that patient access and transportation limitations support approval. “Our citizens should not have to overcome additional barriers to gain the medicines prescribed to them by their physicians,” Cockrell told the board during the public hearing.
Several commissioners noted that the county previously approved a nearby facility in 2021 and that no operational problems had been reported from that location. One commissioner opposed, citing a stricter statutory reading and concern about setting precedent. The motion to approve carried 4–1.
Outcome and next steps: Staff will document the board’s local findings and finalize any conditional use or permit paperwork required for the applicant to proceed; the county noted no immediate code enforcement concerns in the location comparisons presented.
