Orange Park – State Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, filed legislation implementing Amendment Two, the Florida constitutional amendment that expands the medical marijuana system in the state.
The Florida Legislature will consider Senate Bill 406 during the regular session convening March 7.
If enacted, the measure would allow up to 20 more medical marijuana producers once the number of patients registered for that treatment reaches 500,000. Florida now has seven licensed dispensing organizations.
The proposed measure, filed Jan. 19, is intended to make it easier for doctors to prescribe medical marijuana treatment for their patients.
Florida voters Nov. 8 overwhelmingly 71 percent statewide approved Amendment 2, which expands medical use of marijuana for people with debilitating medical conditions.
It also authorizes licensed businesses in Florida to acquire, produce and distribute marijuana for medical purposes.
The Florida Department of Health already had established the Office of Compassionate Use to begin implementing a state law authorizing the prescribing and distribution of lowTHC cannabis or medical cannabis for some patients diagnosed with serious, lifethreatening medical conditions.
In 2014, the Florida Legislature legalized low-THC medical marijuana, and in 2016 expanded the medical marijuana system to provide legal access to marijuana for terminally ill Floridians, Bradley said. It was clear state residents want even more options as evidenced by the Nov. 8 vote passing Amendment 2, he said.
This bill significantly expands the current medical marijuana system to give Floridians the relief they have demanded, and it does so safely and quickly, Bradley said.
Bradley worked closely with state Sen. Dana Young, R-Tampa, to craft the bill. Young is chairwoman of the Senates Health Policy Committee and is co-introducer of Senate Bill 406.
This bill faithfully honors our solemn obligation to the people of Florida to implement Amendment Two, Young said. Suffering Floridians will have now real options with no unreasonable delays.
The Health Policy Committee heard testimony from numerous Floridians at a recent committee meeting in Tallahassee.
As more Floridians utilize medical marijuana, the bill provides for the expansion of the numbers of licenses available to those entities that will grow and sell medical marijuana.
This provision is intended to ensure that Floridians have several price and quality options in the medical marijuana marketplace.
However, people wont be allowed to grow their own medical marijuana.
Bradley and Youngs proposed legislation would eliminate the current requirement that doctors treat patients for at least 90 days before being allowed to order marijuana for them. It also would expand to 90 days from 45 days, the amount of marijuana supplies patients can purchase.
The measure would ban edible marijuana products in a format designed to be attractive to children.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Legislation Filed To Make It Easier For Patients To Be Prescribed Medical Marijuana
Author: Teresa Stepzinski
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Photo Credit: AP
Website: jacksonville.com
