Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
A Senate bill that could expand medical marijuana in Florida was temporary postponed Tuesday.
The proposal (SB 460) adds medical marijuana to the state’s Right to Try Act. Under the proposal, sponsored by Sen. Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican, eligible patients would be able to purchase and possess marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Lawmakers had a jam-packed schedule Tuesday, and Senate President Andy Gardiner temporarily postponed the measure saying the Senate had “other business that we want to get done.” He also cautioned lawmakers who were continuing to file amendments to Bradley’s bill.
“I would caution everybody that is starting to file amendments that you are running the risk, running the risk of this bill being referred back to committee,” said Gardiner. “Just be duly noted that I’m a little concerned about the number of amendments and I can anticipate there will be more.”
Lawmakers filed more than 20 amendments to the medical marijuana measure.
The Senate was in the midst of discussing a strike-all amendment when the bill was postponed. Bradley said the amendment is an effort to “align the Senate position with the House position.”
Bradley said the amendment provides the five licenses that received preliminary approval from the Department of Health are deemed approved and opens a door for more dispensing organizations if 250,000 qualified patients register with the compassionate use registry.
“We’ve learned over the last two years what is working and what isn’t working,” said Bradley. “Most important, there have been too many delays and … it’s time to end it.”
The measure was retained on the special order calendar and could be taken up again in the coming days.
One comment
Malcolm Kyle
February 23, 2016 at 2:32 pm
The discovery of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is the single most important scientific medical discovery since the recognition of sterile surgical technique. As our knowledge expands, we are coming to realize that the ECS is a master control system of virtually all physiology. The total effect of the ECS is to regulate homeostasis and prevent disease and aging. The more we learn, the more we realize that we are in the infancy of this scientific field of study. The ECS is a control system which involves tissue receptor proteins, cellular communication and control, molecular anatomy and the scavenging of oxygen free radicals. This new field of science will change medicine forever and prove cannabis the gold standard for many disease processes. Its effect on scavenging oxygen free radicals is applicable to all disease processes and this is why it has such wide medical application and is considered a cure-all by many.
The discovery of the ECS will replace the current medical system of managing and treating disease. Instead of management of symptoms after disease has occurred, we will prevent disease and cancer by manipulation of the ECS.
Research and education of medical students involving the ECS is being intentionally restricted by politics. No justification can be made for the restriction of the scientific study of cannabis and the endocannabinoid system. What is the danger of providing government-grown and tested cannabis to researchers? Diversion of research cannabis for non-scientific or recreational purposes does not seem to be a serious threat to national security.
By Dr David Allen
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