Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
A measure expanding medical marijuana to the terminally ill is headed back to a Senate panel.
The Florida Senate on Thursday announced the measure (SB 460) would be referred back to the Senate Rules Committee. The move came one day after the bill, sponsored by Sen. Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican, was temporarily postponed.
Lawmakers filed dozens of amendments to the bill, and Senate President Andy Gardiner warned the bill might need to be sent back to a committee.
“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,” he said Wednesday. “Just be duly noted that I’m a little concerned about the number of amendments and I can anticipate there will be more.”
The proposal adds medical marijuana to the state’s Right to Try Act. Under Bradley’s proposal, eligible patients would be able to purchase and possess marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Senators were in the midst of discussing a strike-all amendment when the bill was postponed Wednesday. The amendment would have brought the Senate proposal in line with the House position.
The Rules Committee is expected to meet Monday.
