Page 35 - SFHN0418 final36p.qxp_SFHN 0608 Friday 5.0

Medical Cannabis Protections Extended to 46 States Medical

98 percent of the U.S. Population Shielded Marijuana

from Department of Justice Interference Insurance for

Physicians and
Medical cannabis patients and businesses are protected from federal intervention after President Trump signed the country’s new
spending bill into law Friday. The more than 2,200 page Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 included expanded language Dispensaries
for medical cannabis and hemp production.
Specifically, Section 538 of the bill extends protections to 46 states – more states than ever before – as well as adding Guam and
Puerto Rico. Also known as the Rohrabacher–Farr amendment, the section has been included in spending bills since it was first It’s a common misconception that
passed in 2014. legal marijuana dispensary insurance
The amendment covers 98 percent of the United States’ population, while the original 2014 amendment covered about 61 per- is very expensive and unattainable, but
it is actually very reasonably priced.
cent of the country’s population at the time. We can provide you with many types
New Mexico was one of the original 36 states to be included in the 2014 section, and now all of its bordering states have been of comprehensive insurance coverage
extended protections from federal interference. Only Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota were not mentioned in the bill. which will help your business stay on
“In a time of such great political discord and dissension on so many topics, it is refreshing to see near universal agreement on its feet should some type of calamity or
the commitment to protect and expand medical cannabis,” said Duke Rodriguez, CEO and President of Ultra Health®. “Ideally, unfortunate event arise.
New Mexico and other states will exercise the political boldness to make the needed next step by legalizing for adults the social
use of cannabis.” • General Liability
The full text reads: • Property Protection
“SEC. 538. None of the funds made available under this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with respect to any of • Medicine Coverage
the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, • Business Income
• Extra Expense Insurance
Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, • Product Liability
Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Danna-Gracey is the leading indepen-
and Wyoming, or with respect to the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico, to prevent any of them from implementing their dent medical malpractice insurance
own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.” agency in Florida, and the top agency
Fifty-nine House Republicans and Democrats want to push even further and grant protections to states with legalized cannabis for several of the lead-
for social use. ing insurers in Florida.
“We are concerned about the Department of Justice enforcing federal marijuana law in a way that blocks implementation of mar- For more information
ijuana reform laws in those states that have passed such contact Jessica Hoehn
reforms,” the bipartisan group wrote in a letter. “The issue at of Danna-Gracey at
888.496.0059.
hand is whether the federal government’s marijuana policy vio-
lates the principles of federalism and the Tenth Amendment.
Consistent with those principles, we believe that states ought to
retain jurisdiction over most criminal justice matters within their
borders. This is how the Founders intended our system to func-
tion.”
888.496.0059 • Jessica@dannagracey.com
www.dannagracey.com

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com April 2018 35