The city of Bradenton approved a six-month extension on a moratorium that stops medical marijuana dispensaries from opening.
- Florida lawmakers approved medical marijuana last November
- Bradenton officials want more direction from state
- Residents such as Robert Jordan upset with decision
When the moratorium ends, it will have been more than a year since Florida voters approved the drug.
The city says with no rules or regulations from state lawmakers, cities like Bradenton have no guidance on how to manage medical marijuana dispensaries.
"This is relatively all new for cities and counties in Florida, so we're waiting for direction from them. That hasn’t happened," said Brandeton spokesman Tim McCann. "So what the city did (Wednesday) night was extend the current moratorium another six months."
For the past 30 years, Robert Jordan has been fighting to legalize medical marijuana - not only for himself but for his wife Cathy, who suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
"It's the right thing to do," he said. "We started this so long ago that it's always been Cathy’s theme, and mine has always been, 'if it helped her, why can’t it help somebody else?'"
Jordan is upset to hear the moratorium will stay in place.
"Beyond frustrating," he said. "It's at a point that people say, 'How have you and Cathy done this for all these years?' When I quit, she doesn't, when she quits, I don't."
The two says they will keep going until the moratorium is lifted, and the city of Bradenton comes up with a plan for when, where and how medical marijuana is doled out.
The city has said it will look into getting rid of the moratorium as soon as regulations from either the state or health department are given.