Robert Celt
New Member
Make way, politicos: medical marijuana is coming back to the House floor. The Florida House is ready to take up a bill to legalize medical marijuana for dying patients on Wednesday.
The legislation -- HB 307/HB 1313 -- would give patients in the state's "compassionate use" registry the ability to use low THC medical marijuana.
Only physicians can put patients on the compassionate use registry. Physicians would have to participate in a course 8-hour course and an exam offered by the Florida Medical Association or the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association that teaches physicians the clinical indications for the appropriate use of low-THC cannabis and medical cannabis.
Any patient under the age of 18 would need a second opinion from another physician to determine whether medical marijuana was right for them.
The course would also cover "appropriate" cannabis delivery mechanisms as well as the federal laws about medical marijuana. The exam would be administered at least annually, according to the proposal.
The legislation would also provide for five dispensing operations to make medical marijuana accessible to patients. The five dispensaries would be located in Florida's five different regions: northwest Florida, northeast Florida, central Florida, southeast Florida and southwest Florida.
Not just anyone could grow medical pot though.
Dispensaries would have to show they had the technology and technical ability to produce medical cannabis. They'd also have to have a valid certificate from the Florida Department of Agriculture, which would allow them to cultivate over 400,000 plants.
The bill has sponsors from both sides of the aisle. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, Rep. Katie Edwards, D-Plantation, and Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, are all putting their weight behind the legislation.
This isn't the first time Florida's had medical marijuana on the table during the legislative session. In 2014, the state passed a bill to legalize medical marijuana for patients with epilepsy, but legal battles have put roadblocks to the actual implementation of the bill.
The Senate companion bill was heard on the Senate floor last week, but because so many amendments were tacked onto the bill it was referred to a Senate committee. That bill is also headed to the Senate floor for debate.
Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, the sponsor of the Senate proposal, said the primary reason epileptic patients haven't been able to get the care they need is due to a money issue.
"Money has affected this process. That's why, two years later, product has not been delivered to families," he explained. "For me, this is about finishing the job."
The House bill is scheduled to be heard Wednesday and has already been placed on the special order calendar, but a lengthy debate is to be expected for both the Senate and the House versions of the bill.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Florida House To Debate Medical Marijuana Bill
Author: Allison Nielson
Contact: Sunshine State News
Photo Credit: EarthMed
Website: Sunshine State News
The legislation -- HB 307/HB 1313 -- would give patients in the state's "compassionate use" registry the ability to use low THC medical marijuana.
Only physicians can put patients on the compassionate use registry. Physicians would have to participate in a course 8-hour course and an exam offered by the Florida Medical Association or the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association that teaches physicians the clinical indications for the appropriate use of low-THC cannabis and medical cannabis.
Any patient under the age of 18 would need a second opinion from another physician to determine whether medical marijuana was right for them.
The course would also cover "appropriate" cannabis delivery mechanisms as well as the federal laws about medical marijuana. The exam would be administered at least annually, according to the proposal.
The legislation would also provide for five dispensing operations to make medical marijuana accessible to patients. The five dispensaries would be located in Florida's five different regions: northwest Florida, northeast Florida, central Florida, southeast Florida and southwest Florida.
Not just anyone could grow medical pot though.
Dispensaries would have to show they had the technology and technical ability to produce medical cannabis. They'd also have to have a valid certificate from the Florida Department of Agriculture, which would allow them to cultivate over 400,000 plants.
The bill has sponsors from both sides of the aisle. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, Rep. Katie Edwards, D-Plantation, and Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, are all putting their weight behind the legislation.
This isn't the first time Florida's had medical marijuana on the table during the legislative session. In 2014, the state passed a bill to legalize medical marijuana for patients with epilepsy, but legal battles have put roadblocks to the actual implementation of the bill.
The Senate companion bill was heard on the Senate floor last week, but because so many amendments were tacked onto the bill it was referred to a Senate committee. That bill is also headed to the Senate floor for debate.
Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, the sponsor of the Senate proposal, said the primary reason epileptic patients haven't been able to get the care they need is due to a money issue.
"Money has affected this process. That's why, two years later, product has not been delivered to families," he explained. "For me, this is about finishing the job."
The House bill is scheduled to be heard Wednesday and has already been placed on the special order calendar, but a lengthy debate is to be expected for both the Senate and the House versions of the bill.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Florida House To Debate Medical Marijuana Bill
Author: Allison Nielson
Contact: Sunshine State News
Photo Credit: EarthMed
Website: Sunshine State News
