Christine Jordan Sexton
More than 800 Department of Health jobs will be eliminated under the House-proposed budget released Tuesday.
However, the Office of Compassionate Use — charged with implementing and managing the state’s medical marijuana law — will see its staff increase by three positions under the proposed spending plan. The proposed budget also gives the Office of Compassionate Use $380,472.
The Department of Health was not able to immediately answer how many staff are in the Office of Compassionate Use now or whether the department requested additional staff in its legislative budget request.
The Legislature approved a non-euphoric strain of marijuana, known as Charlotte’s Web, for use in treating epileptic patients, including children, last year. Implementing the law has been a bureaucratic mess, with rule challenges as well as legal challenges.
The law was championed by Holley and Peyton Moseley and their daughter, RayAnn.
Ryan Nobles Wiggins, a spokeswoman for the Moseley family, said giving the office additional resources provides the needed resources to make the law successful.
“I think that office has been tasked with an enormous and important responsibility, and I think it is encouraging that the House recognizes it,” she said.
