GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Clay County Planning Commission looks to be charting a careful, but compassionate, course on its dealings with medical marijuana and a potential moratorium on the issue.

The idea of an approximate year-long moratorium in dealing with zoning regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries and treatment centers was discussed at the Planning Commission’s Dec. 6 meeting, and while no action was taken, the commission looked to be leaning towards advising a quicker resolution to the situation, rather than suggesting a year-long moratorium on dealing with it.

“I don’t think that we should drag our heels on something the voters of the state of Florida have passed,” said Belinda Johnson, commission vice chair.

The Planning Commission acts as an advisory board to the Board of County Commissioners, which has final say on all planning and zoning items.

The issue will come before the Planning Commission for a recommendation at its January meeting and will also be looked at by the BCC at that time.

The subject of medical marijuana came to the fore in the fall, when the issue appeared on state ballots in the Nov. 8 election. State voters passed what is known as Amendment Two, which expands the availability and use of medical marijuana. The BCC sent a request to the Planning Commission in October asking for its recommendations on how to approach the issue should it pass.

The county currently has no zoning regulations in place to deal with dispensaries and treatment centers and technically cannot accept any applications for those items at this time, said County Attorney Courtney Grimm. In fact, she said, the county needs to hear from the state itself on how to form such regulations.

That is expected to take place in the next six months, and Grimm has been among those suggesting a temporary moratorium as it would allow the county staff to develop sound regulations to deal with the zoning issues surrounding the dispensaries and treatment centers.

Both Green Cove Springs and Orange Park governments have already implemented such moratoriums.

But at the Dec. 6 Planning Commission meeting, the sentiments expressed by both the audience and some commission members appeared to lean towards implementing regulations without a moratorium.

Richard Klinzman, who ran for a position on the county commission in November but was defeated, said he was no advocate of illegal drug use but believed medical marijuana could absolutely benefit some victims of illness, especially children suffering from cancer. Saying medical marijuana seemed to work and “bring a lot of relief” to children, he asked the Planning Commission to delay any kind of a moratorium.

“I think you have to be very cold-hearted to say ‘no, we don’t want that in our county,’ and if you want to use it you’ll have to drive to Miami,’” he said. “What I’m looking for is your support in delaying a moratorium on this.”

Johnson said she agreed with his views, especially since she knew a family that had been affected by a child with cancer and had seen how the use of medical marijuana had helped them. Saying many people don’t understand the difference between “medical marijuana” and “regular marijuana,” she said the medical marijuana made it possible for the child to simply eat after chemotherapy treatments.

“It does help,” she said, adding she would like to see the county move forward as soon as possible after the state determines its recommendations rather than utilize a moratorium.

Planning Commission Chairman Joe Anzalone said he, too, had personal knowledge of how medical marijuana could benefit people, citing a one-year-old child who experienced seizures on a daily basis without the use of medical marijuana.

“I think this is something that is going to be good. I don’t think it’s something that we should take lightly and we should not be dragging our feet on it. I think if we are going to do something we should do it quickly,” he said.

In other action, the Planning Commission released its schedule for meetings on updates for the county’s comprehensive plan. All meetings will start at 6 p.m. The schedule and location for each planning district is as follows: Orange Park, Jan. 11, Orange Park Library; Green Cove Springs, Jan. 17, Clay County Administration Building, Fourth Floor, 477 Houston St.; Penney Farms/Lake Asbury, Jan. 18, Clay County Fairgrounds-J.P. Hall Building, 2497 SR 16; Doctors Inlet/Ridgewood, Jan. 19, Asbury United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 16 College Drive; Keystone Heights, Jan. 25, Keystone Heights City Hall; Fleming Island, Jan. 31, Headquarters Library, 1895 Town Center Blvd., and Middleburg/Clay Hill, Feb. 1, Middleburg/Clay Hill Library, 2245 Aster Ave., Middleburg.