Deltona City Commission Votes Against Medical Marijuana Shop Ban

The Deltona City Commission last week voted against a proposal that would’ve banned medical marijuana shops within the city’s boundaries. The vote occurred on Monday, June 16th amid debate over the benefits and drawbacks of dispensaries within communities. The vote was 6-1 to strike down the proposal, with only City Commissioner Emma Santiago dissenting. The majority was formed by Mayor Santiago Avila Jr. and city commissioners Davison Heriot, Maritza Avila-Vazquez, Dori Howington, Stephen Colwell, and Nick Lulli. The City Commission does not have the authority to take a half measure on medical marijuana dispensaries. They’re required by state law to either allow the businesses to operate unimpeded or to place an outright ban. Some commissioners speculated they may have been willing to discuss a more nuanced approach if they had the option, The West Volusia Beacon reported. Currently the only active medical marijuana dispensary in Deltona is Surterra Wellness, located on Deltona Blvd. A second shop may be on the way soon. Florida voters in 2016 approved an amendment to the state constitution that allowed medical marijuana to be produced, sold, and used in the state. It was required to reach 60.0% of the vote to pass, and ended up garnering 71.3%. Nowadays medical marijuana is regulated by the Florida Department of Health via their Office of Medical Marijuana Use. A statewide initiative to further expand marijuana legalization to include recreational usage failed with only 55.9% in 2024. Local municipalities who have banned medical marijuana businesses, such as Florida’s own Lake County in 2017, have sometimes reasoned that the stores aren’t right for rural areas. A common rebuttal to advocates is that there often remains easy access to dispensaries in nearby cities, at times in the same county.