Here's What's New In Florida's Medical Marijuana Amendment

[Jacob Redmond]

Medical marijuana is close to being back in the hands of Florida voters, but this time around, the amendment has new wording.

Here's what's new, according to Ben Pollara, campaign manager of medical marijuana organization United for Care:

• The original amendment allowed five medical marijuana patients per caregiver, but now it says the Department of Health decides the number of patients per caregiver.
  
  
• The Department of Health can perform background checks on caregivers, per text of the amendment.
  
  
• Parental consent is needed before a doctor can prescribe a minor medical marijuana, and the parent giving consent must be present in the doctor's office.
  
  
• Only people with debilitating diseases can be prescribed medical marijuana.

The Florida Supreme Court will review 73,713 petitions submitted on Sept. 1 by United for Care. Nearly 609,500 petitions are still needed by January for the amendment to be on the ballot.

If approved, medical marijuana could have a big economic impact in Orlando – an estimated $140.1 million market, according to previous reports.

News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Florida's medical marijuana amendment has new wording - Orlando Business Journal
Author: Rachel Williams
Contact: Contact Us - Orlando Business Journal
Photo Credit: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg
Website: Business News - The Business Journals