Florida Senate Committee Unanimously Passes Medical Cannabis Bill

Florida Senate Committee Unanimously Passes Medical Cannabis Bill

Florida’s Senate Health Policy Committee voted 8 to 0 Tuesday to approve Senate Bill 7066, a proposal to greatly expand upon a medical cannabis bill approved by state lawmakers – and signed by Governor Rick Scott – in 2014. The bill has already been approved by the Senate Regulated Industries Committee.

In July, Governor Rick Scott signed into law a proposal that legalized the possession, use and state-licensed distribution of low-THC cannabis extracts for the treatment of cancer, epilepsy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Senate Bill 7066 would add multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, paraplegia, quadriplegia and terminal illness to the list of conditions that qualify an individual to purchase and use cannabis medicines.

Senate Bill 7066 would also significantly increase the number of licensed producers and distributors of cannabis extracts.

In January, legislation (Senate Bill 528) to legalize medical cannabis – not just cannabis extracts – was filed in the state’s Senate, though it unfortunately has yet to gain much traction.

A separate proposal filed last month in the state’s Senate – Senate Bill 1176 – would legalize the possession, personal cultivation and distribution of cannabis for recreational purposes.

– TheJointBlog