Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Tallahassee, Fla. - Florida voters in November overwhelmingly approved expanding the use of medical marijuana. Lawmakers must now decide whether the distribution system needs to be altered from what was already in place, and whether local government should be allowed to decide where dispensaries can be located.
Another uncertainty is that marijuana remains illegal under federal law. The Obama administration has deferred to the states, but there is no guarantee the Trump administration will do the same.
Senate President Joe Negron said lawmakers got the message voters sent when it comes to medical marijuana.
"It passed with 71 percent of the vote, which is more votes than I got in my re-election," Negron said.
But what happens next remains in question. Sen. Jeff Brandes thinks anyone who has one of the 10 debilitating diseases set out in the amendment can start treatment Jan. 3, as long as they have a doctor who can prescribe and meet a 90-day treatment requirement.
"Those who are allowed to treat today will be able to treat to a wider network, because the list of conditions goes into effect Jan 3," Brandes said.
But the Department of Health has sent mixes messages, agreeing with Brandes, but adding it has between six and nine months to implement rules.
"We want to sell legal marijuana come Jan. 3, but we don't know what that is," one grower said.
Where it can be sold is a big question as local governments are placing moratoriums on dispensaries. Negron said he thinks they can do that within limits.
"I do think the state has a responsibility to make sure that people's rights under the Constitution -- their right to participate in legal commercial activities -- aren't completely taken away," Negron said.
Some are pushing for a more free market approach than just the six licenses already allowed, but Sen. Dennis Baxley isn't one of them.
"We're really in a very awkward place, where we could be setting loose a Pandora's box of social problems," Baxley said.
Lawmakers will have until the end of June to sort it out. If they can't, the courts will likely be asked to decide what's legal.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Expanding Use Of Medical Marijuana Approved By Voters, But What's Next?
Author: Mike Vasilinda
Contact: 904-393-9844
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: News 4 Jax
Another uncertainty is that marijuana remains illegal under federal law. The Obama administration has deferred to the states, but there is no guarantee the Trump administration will do the same.
Senate President Joe Negron said lawmakers got the message voters sent when it comes to medical marijuana.
"It passed with 71 percent of the vote, which is more votes than I got in my re-election," Negron said.
But what happens next remains in question. Sen. Jeff Brandes thinks anyone who has one of the 10 debilitating diseases set out in the amendment can start treatment Jan. 3, as long as they have a doctor who can prescribe and meet a 90-day treatment requirement.
"Those who are allowed to treat today will be able to treat to a wider network, because the list of conditions goes into effect Jan 3," Brandes said.
But the Department of Health has sent mixes messages, agreeing with Brandes, but adding it has between six and nine months to implement rules.
"We want to sell legal marijuana come Jan. 3, but we don't know what that is," one grower said.
Where it can be sold is a big question as local governments are placing moratoriums on dispensaries. Negron said he thinks they can do that within limits.
"I do think the state has a responsibility to make sure that people's rights under the Constitution -- their right to participate in legal commercial activities -- aren't completely taken away," Negron said.
Some are pushing for a more free market approach than just the six licenses already allowed, but Sen. Dennis Baxley isn't one of them.
"We're really in a very awkward place, where we could be setting loose a Pandora's box of social problems," Baxley said.
Lawmakers will have until the end of June to sort it out. If they can't, the courts will likely be asked to decide what's legal.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Expanding Use Of Medical Marijuana Approved By Voters, But What's Next?
Author: Mike Vasilinda
Contact: 904-393-9844
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: News 4 Jax