James Call
Medicinal marijuana advocates will focus on a Tallahassee meeting room today and Thursday as stakeholders and officials hammer out regulations for a Charlotte’s Web law. Their focus will return to the Florida Capitol next week when the effort to broaden the authorization to use marijuana as a medicine is expected to pick up steam.
Advocates from across the state say they will bring 1,000 patients, senior citizens, military veterans and medical doctors to rally for a comprehensive medicinal marijuana law Feb. 10. And the sponsor of a Senate measure which closely resembles a proposed constitutional amendment said he expects a House version similar to his proposal to be filed soon.
Last month, Sen. Jeff Brandes filed a bill greatly relaxing the state’s prohibition on cannabis. Brandes said a quiet groundswell of support is forming in support of his legislation.
“I think overall there is a lot of discussion and support for keeping in the world of statutes and making sure that we can do it thoughtfully and judiciously versus the kind of one-size fits all constitutional amendment,” said Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican.
United for Care, which promoted a constitutional amendment that failed in November, has retooled its initiative and is gathering signatures to place the proposal on the 2016 ballot. Ben Pollara, its executive director, applauded the Brandes proposal.
Brandes lists eight specific diseases and six medical conditions eligible for marijuana treatment and removes any restriction on the amount of THC, the euphoria producing chemical, in the plant or product. Proponents have argued THC contains medicinal benefits.
“I want to make sure that doctors have all the tools they need to treat patients and if they believe in their reasoned medical judgment that medical cannabis can be used to offset symptoms patients are suffering with I think that should be tool to be offered like it is in 23 other states,” Brandes said.
He said he’s confident a House partner will emerge by next week and the process of moving the proposal through the legislature will begin.
The timing may coincide with the Tallahassee rally scheduled for Tuesday on the grounds of the Historic Old Capitol. NORML of Florida, Florida Can and other groups are behind the event. It’s part of a southern strategy of a coalition which has scheduled rallies in Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana.
You can read more about that effort here. Details of the Feb. 10 Tallahassee rally are here.
