Mitch Perry
Patients, caregivers and activists offered emotional – and often searing – testimony Wednesday in a Tampa workshop held by the state office that regulates medical marijuana.
In a standing-room-only meeting for the Office of Compassionate Use, they discussed proposed rules on medical marijuana that could go into effect later this year.
The agency’s rule-making workshop is making the rounds across the state this week, gathering public comment on the implementation of Amendment 2, overwhelmingly approved by Florida voters in November.
Although the maximum capacity of the Dept. of Health Tampa Branch Laboratory meeting room was set at 142 – far more than that lined two walls and the back of the chamber.
Amendment 2 allows doctors to order medical marijuana as a treatment for patients with cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, post-traumatic stress disorder, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis. It gives doctors the power to order marijuana for “other debilitating medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to those enumerated, and for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient.”
Proposed rules offered last month brought intense criticism from United for Care, the advocacy group that fought to get the measure on the ballot in 2014 and 2016. Those criticisms were repeated throughout the discussion held near the USF campus in north Tampa.
Among the biggest concerns: Current Florida law allows for only seven dispensaries statewide to provide medical marijuana, and patients must have a 90-day relationship with a doctor who completed specific medical training before they can provide a recommendation for medical cannabis.
“The will of the people is being ignored,” said Renee Petro. “Nobody should have to wait 90 days.”
The market needed to be opened to drive down prices, Petro added.
“We should have the right to medicate our children and loved ones in public,” she said. “The amendment passed and it’s up to Dept. of Health to execute this in timely matter.”
“Monopolies drive up prices and limit access,” added Dr. Matthew Knisley, a psychiatrist with Bay Pines Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Clearwater resident Dani Hall is with the group Mothers Advocating for Medical Marijuana for Autism, and the mother of two autistic sons. She said it was “abhorrent and disgusting that we are even having this conversation,” after more than 71 percent of the public voted in support of Amendment Two, eliciting a huge cheer.
Clearwater Police Chief Dan Slaughter, representing the Florida Police Chiefs Association, expressed serious reservations about the implementation of the amendment. His group is asking for a state photo ID card and access to a 24-hour registry, so police know who can legally consume medical pot.
“We do not need to know the nature of the illness, but just be able to confirm whether or not a person is able to lawfully possess medical marijuana, especially at a traffic stop.”
The Police Chiefs also want those who work at medical marijuana dispensaries to also have a photo ID card and a Level II background check, along with no drug offense misdemeanors in the past decade.
Except for one occasion, Christian Bax, the director of the state’s Office of Compassionate Use, sat quietly and listen to each speaker.
A bill from St. Petersburg Republican Senator Jeff Brandes (SB 614) has the potential to open the market beyond the seven dispensing organizations under law.
It was the third public hearing held by the Office of Compassionate Use this week; meetings in Orlando and Tallahassee are set for later this week.
2 comments
Richard Perrotti
February 8, 2017 at 10:36 pm
What people need to understand is that these politicians are bought and paid for by Big Pharma. Look how many dollars are spent on opioids. How many people are addicted to a drug that has only one effect and that is addiction. People build up a resistance and have to use more and more. This in turn means more and more money for Big Pharma and more and more campaign contributions and suitcases full of money for the Republican politicians. Mr. Perry your time would be better served in following the money. As Mr. Trump said he loves ignorant people, these are the same people who have elected these criminals. They do not run for office to help people, they run for office to help themselves. They denigrate government but they feed at the public trough for years. We need to have term limits so we know what party to elect. We know there will always be politicians who are in it for their own gratification. If they had one term we could identify who works for the people and who works for themselves. We can then publicize which politicians have passed legislation that helps people and what legislation helps Big Pharma!
Richard Perrotti
February 8, 2017 at 10:58 pm
I just read a little about Ms. Spenser and it’s funny that she says she is not getting money from Big Pharma. That sets off a red flag for me. No one said she was getting money from Big Pharma. She talks about a Drug Free Florida. What does she think OxyContin is? The difference between those pain killers are, they have been proven to be addictive. That is a fact, where is her factual evidence that marihuana is addictive. Me thinks she protests too loudly. She has spent her life as a counselor and she thinks marihuana is worse then these opioids. I’ll bet money is funneled to her in one form or another, no one has investigated her. Someone should!
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