Warning: Constant ABSPATH already defined in /home/flanews/public_html/wp-config.php on line 34
Capitol News Service » Blog Archive » Medical Marijuana Could Be In Patient’s Hands By End of Year

Welcome to

Capitol News Service

Florida's Best Political Coverage on Television

Medical Marijuana Could Be In Patient’s Hands By End of Year

May 28th, 2015 by flanews

A year long battle to get medical marijuana into the hands of needy families in Florida could finally be ending. And as Matt Galka tells us, lawmakers could be considering expanding marijuana in the state when the medicine rolls out.

It’s been a long road for a low-THC strain of Medical Marijuana known as Charlotte’s Web in Florida.  The medicinal pot was approved in 2014, but a year long battle between the Department of Health and multiple organizations challenging various sections of their rules has delayed getting the medicine into patients hands. Jeff Sharkey with the medical marijuana business association says it looks like those days are behind the state now.

“It’s been a long process for a lot of people, but I think this rule making process has help clarify – this is a new emerging industry and people wanted some clarification on what they’re going to grow, how it’s going to be fostered, what’s safe,” he said.

A judge dismissed the final rule challenge Wednesday.  Five growers licenses still need to be granted this summer.

 

The medicine isn’t expected to be available until late 2015 or early 2016, around the same time lawmakers will be back for legislative session.
“There’s been an interest with the Senate in expanding the medical marijuana bill, increasing the number of people eligible. Veterans, people with ALS, a number of other folks with debilitating diseases,” said Sharkey.

Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Shalimar) sponsored the original bill of the medicine that is believed to help seizure victims. He says it could open the door for medicinal use in Florida.

 

“Once we get the infrastructure and the systems in place I expect that we can help even more patients in Florida with cannabis,” Rep. Gaetz told us over the phone.

Lawmakers made attempts to expand medical marijuana in the state during regular session this year, but the legislation didn’t get very far.

If lawmakers don’t revisit medical marijuana in 2016, supporters are confident that a medical marijuana amendment will be back on the ballot during election season.  2014’s amendment allowing medical marijuana usage in the state was narrowly defeated.

Posted in State News | Comments Off on Medical Marijuana Could Be In Patient’s Hands By End of Year

Comments are closed.

copyright © 2016 by Capitol News Service | Powered by Wordpress | Hosted by LyonsHost.com