Smokeable Medical Marijuana Will Be Available in Florida Very Soon
This article chronicles the implementation of the smokeable medical marijuana that will be available in Florida very soon while Florida Marijuana Doctors are seeing an increase in patients. As expected, once applied to our human tapestry, smokeable medical marijuana has been subjected to some classic interpretations, with a strong promise of more to come.
Last week, the Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis announced that he has asked the Legislature to change Florida law to allow the use of smokeable medical marijuana. The governor also wants to limit the restrictions on who can grow and sell cannabis products. The new Agric Commissioner has plans to create a Director of Cannabis position.
It appears that the newly sworn-in Florida lawmakers are taking a positive approach to try to limit access to medical cannabis in Florida. The Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative which was passed in November 2016 which is also known as Amendment 2, gave patients the right to make use of medical marijuana if they have been diagnosed with a good medical condition. However, its implementation has been controversial. The 2017 bill which was signed into law, made it legal to access marijuana when in oil, pill, edible and vape form, but not to smoke it.
The state was sued over the smoke issue and lost, but was appealing that ruling. Last week DeSantis announced that he wants to drop the appeal and have lawmakers make it clear that patients can smoke medical marijuana. The governor directed the legislature to take action towards the implementation of the amendment and he said it has until 15th of March to do so before the appeal is dropped.
The Governor also announced that he wants to put a stop to ‘’vertical integration’’ for licensed cannabis operators in Florida, which requires marijuana operators to grow, process, distribute and sell products. Such a change would allow operators to be licensed manufacturers or growers.
The current law also limits the number of marijuana licenses and dispensaries. More than a dozen court decisions have ruled that the limitations are in conflict with Amendment 2. The Governor suggested he may also withdraw from addition lawsuits.
It’s not only DeSantis who wants quick action towards expanding access to smokeable medical marijuana. The Agriculture Commissioner announced that she wants to create a Director of Cannabis position in her department who will have the responsibility to oversee all the different parts of the medical marijuana program which is currently overseen by the department. Most of Florida medical marijuana industry is regulated by the Florida Department of Health.
The 2018 Farm Bill which was signed to law in December by President Donald Trump, classified hemp as an agricultural commodity which removes it from the federal controlled substances list. According to the U.S Food and Drug Administration, making use of CBD oils as a dietary supplement or food additive is illegal.
Even though, the Florida legislature won’t be pushing for recreational use anytime soon, but the constitutional amendment is a possibility. The smokeable medical marijuana will be available in Florida soon, and it’s a welcome development.
If you are interested in getting started on your medical marijuana card in Florida, please contact our offices in today!
Florida governor and commissioner urged legislature to end medical marijuana smoke ban
For the people of Florida, who overwhelmingly supported the medical marijuana back in 2016, the amendment to state’s law to end a ban on smokable medical marijuana is in sight.
Talking to media, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized the inaction of the legislature to address the ban on smokable medical marijuana. He announced Thursday that if they don’t fix it by mid-March, he will resort to the other way to lift the ban.
Setting a deadline of March, DeSantis made it clear if the legislature fails to address the smoking issue, he will withdraw an appeal that was filed under his predecessor, now U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, requesting the court to keep the ban in place. He urged lawmakers to amend the law in a way people want it to be; otherwise, he would let the courts resolve it instead of the lawmakers.
“I want to have the elected representatives write the law in a way the people intended, so we’ll give them a couple of weeks in session to address the smoking issue, and if they don’t do it, we’re going to dismiss the case and move on,” DeSantis said.
John Morgan who sued the state over the smoking ban, declaring “No smoke is a joke,” was also present during the DeSantis’s media talk in Winter Park. Morgan expressed optimism that legislature will make amendments allowing people to use marijuana as a substitute for opioids.
“This is critical to the healthcare in Florida. You have to remember this, marijuana is a substitute for opioids. And opioids now kill more people in America than car wrecks,” Morgan said.
Pointing to the overwhelming majority of 71% by which Floridians voted in favor of medical marijuana legalization, DeSantis said, the move is meant to respect people’s will.
“Whether they have to smoke it or not who am I to judge that? I want people to have their suffering relieved,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis further vowed to amend the law concerned to licensing limits.
“They created a cartel, essentially,” he said. “That is not good policy, so I’d like them to address that as well.”
Following DeSantis’s call on the legislature to act to end the ban on smokable medical marijuana, Commissioner Nikki Fried also urged lawmakers to respect people’s will.
“When the people overwhelmingly voted for legalized medical marijuana in 2016, they intended for the medicine to be accessible by patients in the manner which their doctor, not Tallahassee politicians, decides is best for their treatment.”
Arguing that a ban on medical marijuana is hurting people suffering from serious illnesses, she stated.
“Every day that medical marijuana in the pure plant form is unavailable to patients, Floridians continue to suffer. This is an issue I’ve seen firsthand throughout our state and country, and one that touches my family personally — my mother was recently diagnosed with cancer, and she is struggling to find medicine that relieves her suffering. The fact that she can’t access the medicine she needs breaks my heart.”
Please contact our offices to get started on your medical marijuana doctors certification in Florida today.