Florida legislature convenes; let’s expand the medical cannabis program!

The Florida Legislature has convened in Tallahassee. This is the first legislative session since almost 56% of voters voted YES on Amendment 3, which would have legalized the adult use of cannabis. The amendment may have fallen short (this time!), but this is a great opportunity to improve the medical cannabis program for over 900,000 patients.

Opponents of the legalization amendment criticized it for not including home cultivation. Now lawmakers have a chance to address that issue. Sen. Joe Gruters' S0564 would allow medical patients to grow up to two cannabis plants. Another bill that Sen. Gruters (R) sponsors, S0552, would improve the medical program in many ways, including allowing doctors to use telemedicine and allowing patients currently being prescribed opiates to utilize the program. It also allows a recommendation to be good for two years, waives fees for honorably discharged veterans, and increases product allotment for patients.

If you live in Florida, ask your legislators to support expanding the medical cannabis program!