Page 5 - CNF April 2021

MMJ Patients Focus on Lawmakers

as Session Looms On

Rep. Roach on MMJ expressed his dislike of the bill. He
patients and doctors: They voted with the Democrats on amend-
are “Drug Seekers and ments to expand conditions and make
doctors who just want to the bill better but ultimately voted to
get rich.” pass the bill out of committee. In its
Patients using flower or second committee, Representative
high THC products, med- Trabulsy (R) St. Lucie Co, voted no on
ical specialists who certify the bill, a courageous vote since
their use, and the Medical opposing leadership is a sure way to
Marijuana Treatment get opposition in the next primary
Centers (MMTCs) are all election.
on high alert! A few state Florida has a complicated love/hate
lawmakers have the med- BY JODI JAMES relationship with Cannabis. Voters
ical marijuana program in love it. In 2016, the medical marijua- Trulieve
their crosshairs. Rather na constitutional amendment gar-
than hearing proposals to make the MMJ pro- nished over 71% of the vote. Today, regardless Opens
gram more robust, this fringe group of law- of party affiliation, more than 50% of all demo-
makers is calling for CAPS. graphics now support safe, legal access to
Patients, caregivers, and loved ones are see- recreational Cannabis. But lawmakers, influ- in Sebring,
ing the legislative process play out firsthand. enced by Drug-Free America founders and
Thanks to TheFloridaChannel.org showing Republican king-makers Mel and Betty Clearwater
committee hearings live, MMTCs engaging Sembler, still hear echoes of reefer madness.
their patients, and advocates reporting from Those lawmakers are powerful and bipolar on
Tallahassee, the movement is more engaged Cannabis; loving FDA-approved Cannabis and Tampa
than ever before. Representatives of the drugs, hating Democratic Secretary of
Florida Cannabis Action Network, Florida for Agriculture Nikki Fried being in charge of
CARE, Sunshine Cannabis, and the NORML hemp, and intolerant of Cannabis flower being
affiliates are in Tallahassee meeting with law- called a medicine.
makers and keeping the community informed Patients lose under HB 1455 and its Senate
through video, social media, radio, and print companion SB 1958 by Senator Ray
news. These groups are supporting calls to Rodrigues, also of Lee Co.
action as the bill, HB 1455 moves through its Advocates have been vocal about the choic- One Plant Opens
committee assignments. es patients face if HB 1455 / SB 1958 becomes
House Bill 1455, by Representative Spencer law. If safe, legal access to medical-grade New Dispensary
Roach (R) of Lee Co., limits the potency of Cannabis isn’t an option, they will go back
flowers at 10% THC and concentrates at 60% where they came from. Some will return to the in Bonita Springs
THC. Patients who use high concentrations of illicit market, but more will seek the chemical
THC in flower or concentrates won’t be simply cocktail covered by insurance companies.
buying more, the bill also CAPS the total mil- When the legal flower isn’t an option, patients
ligrams of THC a patient can receive every 35 caught with flower may get an option to
days. While there is an exception, high poten- choose substance abuse treatment to avoid jail
cy product availability will be limited. The time.
existing MMTC’s have until June 2022 to com- The Florida Senate has held the line the past
ply with the new product requirements under two sessions when THC caps on flowers were
the proposed law; but, there is no guarantee proposed. Senator Jeff Brandes, chair of the
they will be able to produce enough flower first committee assignment in the Senate has
under 10% THC to meet demands. no interest in hearing the bill. That roadblock
Cannabis Specialists – those doctors who makes it harder for the bill to get to the
certify patients in the program – are impacted Governor’s desk, but it isn’t impossible.
by this proposed legislation. The bill CAPS Florida Cannabis Action Network and our
free enterprise by mandating the Department partners will continue to follow all the actions
of Health pre-approves all advertising done by in Tallahassee.
MMJ practices. There are no guidelines pro- Readers can follow on
posed in the bill, no time limits on decisions •Twitter @FLCANdoIt,
by the Department of Health, and no appeals • www.facebook.com/
process. • FloridaCAN or on the website
HB 1455 already passed two of its three www.FLCAN.org/pop.
committee assignments in the Florida House.
Lawmakers are voting along party lines, but Jodi James develops the legislative strategy for
behind the scenes, Republican House mem- the Florida Cannabis Action Network. Florida
bers are disturbed. They are hearing from con- CAN was founded in 1998 to give legal standing
stituents and friends who need high THC to advocates seeking permits to hold hemp fests
products. Some are in-the-know about high and rallies. Today, the group boasts of a well-
THC/CBD concentrates in high doses for trained leadership team working toward reform at E-mail your Cannabis news to:
treatment of cancer, something that would be the local, state, federal, and international levels.
eliminated under these proposed limits. General membership starts at just $50.00 annu- carol@cannabisnewsflorida.com
During the first committee hearing, ally. Follow the bill throughout the session at
Republican Rep. Killebrew (Polk Co.) www.FLCAN.org/pop.

28 April 2021 cannabisnewsflorida.com Cannabis News Florida