florida Archives - TheJointBlog

Florida Attorney Who Helped Legalize Medical Marijuana Looking to Put Full Legalization to a Vote in 2020

June 26, 2018

John Morgan, who was the driving force behind Florida’s successful medical marijuana legalization campaign, is looking to put the full legalization of marijuana to a vote of the people by 2020.

Attorney John Morgan is the founder of United for Care, a nonprofit organization that successful placed an initiative to legalize marijuana on the 2016 ballot, which was subsequently approved by voters. Responding to state lawmakers working to restrict the voter-approved law, Morgan says he’s working to legalize marijuana for all adults.

“Maybe it’s time for full legalization”, Morgan said in a recent Tweet. “It would pass with Flying Colors!” Morgan goes on to say that “I’m going to look at starting a fund where we all can donate to get full marijuana legalization on the ballot in 2020”.

Judge Rules Florida’s Ban on Smoking Medical Cannabis is Unconstitutional

May 25, 2018

A Circuit Court judge in Florida has ruled that the state’s ban on smoking medical cannabis – enacted by the legislature – is unconstitutional.

In 2016 Florida voters overwhelmingly passed an initiative that legalized medical cannabis through a constitutional amendment. The law allowed marijuana to be consumed through various methods, including smoking it. However, the following year the legislature enacted a ban on smoking medical cannabis, requiring patients to consume it through other means such as tincutres and topicals.

People United for Medical Marijuana and two patients challenged this ban in court, arguing that the amendment’s language only mentions smoking in public, meaning that patients should be allowed to smoke in private. Leon County Circuit Court Judge Karen Gievers ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, arguing that the ban is unconstitutional.

Medical Marijuana Implementation Bill Signed Into Law by Florida Governor

June 23, 2017

As promised, Florida Governor Rick Scott has signed into law a bill to implement the legalization of medical marijuana.

The governor’s signature comes after the House amended and passed the bill with a 103 to 9 vote, which was followed by a 29 to 6 vote in the Senate. The new law implements a medical cannabis legalization initiative approved by voters last year (Amendment 2). Controversially, the legislation removes patients’ ability to actually smoke medical marijuana, leaving them to rely on other methods of consumption such as edibles and tinctures.

“Don’t get me wrong: this legislation is FAR from perfect. But it is a major step forward for patient access, and is drastically different and more patient-friendly than either chamber’s original implementing bills”, says Ben Pollara of Florida for Care. Pollara was previously the Campaign Manager for United for Care, the group that successfully placed Amendment 2 on last year’s ballot.

Florida Lawmakers Approve Bill to Butcher Medical Cannabis Law Approved by Voters

March 30, 2017March 29, 2017

A Florida House committee has overwhelmingly passed a measure that would drastically alter a medical cannabis law approved by voters last year.

The House Health Quality Subcommittee passed House Bill 1397 yesterday with a 14 to 1 vote. The measure, sponsored by House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, would prohibit the smoking of medical cannabis and cannabis products and would ban edibles entirely. In addition, it would prohibit patients from vaping unless they are terminally ill. This would leave patients to rely on other methods of consumption such as topicals and pills.

This would be a drastic change to Amendment 2, the initiative that legalized medical cannabis in the state; it was approved by voters in November with 71% in favor. The constitutional amendment allows those with a recommendation from a physician to possess and use medical cannabis, and to purchase it from a licensed dispensary.

Companion Bills to Decriminalize Marijuana Filed in Florida’s House and Senate

March 8, 2017

Legislation that would decriminalize marijuana possession has been filed in the Florida Legislature.

House Bill 1403 was filed by State Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith (D), and the identical Senate Bill 1662 was filed by Senator Jeff Clemens (D). Under the proposed legislation, those caught possessing up to an ounce of cannabis will be charged with a maximum of an $100 fine, payable by 15 hours community service. There would be no arrest or criminal charge.

Under current law possessing even 0.1 of a gram is punishable by a misdemeanor and up to a year in jail.

“These draconian marijuana possession laws have wasted taxpayer dollars, unnecessarily filled up our state prison system, and distracted law enforcement from focusing on apprehending dangerous criminals,” Representative Smith said in a press release. “We should be creating opportunities for people to succeed – not creating obstacles and ruining lives over minor infractions or youthful indiscretions. It is past time for the legislature to end the unjust incarceration of Floridians for non-violent drug offenses.”

Florida Officials Begin Issuing Medical Marijuana Cards to Patients

February 25, 2017

**Florida’s Office of Compassionate Use has officially started issuing medical marijuana cards to patients and caregivers.**

According to Mara Gambinieri, spokesperson for the state’s Department of Health, their Office of Compassionate Use began processing patient applications once the state’s new medical marijuana rules took effect on February 19th.

Under the state’s law, those with a qualifying condition who receive a recommendation from a physician to use medical marijuana can apply with the department to do so. Qualifying conditions include HIV/AIDS, cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, chronic muscle spasms, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) and Crohn’s disease.

Medical Marijuana Now Legal in Florida

January 3, 2017

**Medical marijuana is now legal in Florida thanks to portions of Amendment 2 taking effect.**

The new law allows those who receive a recommendation from a physician to possess and use cannabis and cannabis products for medical use. It also legalizes a regulated system of dispensaries to distribute the medicine.

Although this system isn’t expected to be in full operation until next year; the state does currently have some medical cannabis dispensaries thanks to a 2014 law. However, they are currently only allowed to distribute cannabis products that are low in THC.

Florida Legalizes Medical Cannabis

November 8, 2016

Florida legalizes medical cannabis through the passage of Amendment 2

Florida Voters have given overwhelming approval to Amendment 2. Once in effect, the constitutional amendment will legalize cannabis as a medicine, including a system of dispensaries.

With the passage of Amendment 2, Florida has become the first state in the South to full legalize medical cannabis. The law allows those with a physician recommendation to possess and use cannabis for medical purposes. The initiative establishes a system of regulated dispensaries, usable by any qualified patient.

Donor Announces 5-to-1 Match for All Donations to Florida’s Medical Cannabis Initiative

October 10, 2016

Barbara Stiefel, a medical cannabis supporter in Florida, has given a massive boost of adrenaline to the campaign behind Amendment 2 to legalize medical cannabis, which is up for a vote next month. Stiefel has agreed to match all donations between now and election day 5-to-1. This means that if another donor makes a $1,000 contribution, Stiefel will immediately put in $5,000 of her own money. If a separate donor makes a contribution of $10,000, she’ll put in $50,000, and so on.

“As you may have read.. Sheldon Adelson dropped another $500,000 against us”, says Ben Pollara, Campaign Manager for United for Care, the group behind Amendment 2. “However—thanks to the generosity of a major supporter of Amendment 2, Barbara Stiefel, we now have a way to close the gap quickly.

Florida Chamber of Commerce Poll: 73% of Voters Support Amendment 2 to Legalize Medical Cannabis

September 28, 2016

The vast majority of voters in Florida are in favor of Amendment 2 to legalize medical cannabis, according to a Florida Chamber of Commerce statewide poll released less than six weeks before the initiative is up for a vote.

According to the poll, 73% of Florida voters support Amendment 2, with just 22% opposed to the measure. Only 5% remain undecided.

If passed into law, Amendment 2 would legalize the possession and use of medical cannabis for those with a variety of conditions who receive a recommendation from a physician.