Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 1-6-17 Online Edition

Features
Discounted Admission And Ride Tickets Now On Sale For Florida State Fair
Say ‘Bye Bye’ To The Blue Martini At International Mall
Discounted admission and ride tickets for the 2017 Florida State Fair now are available at all area Wal- greens through February 8, as well as online at FloridaS- tateFair.com. Individuals and families can save up to 30 percent off the price at the
The Florida Medical Mari- juana Legalization Initiative, also known as Amendment 2, was on the November 8, 2016 ballot in Florida as an initi- ated Constitutional amend- ment. It was approved by 71% of Florida voters.
A "yes" vote supported le- galizing medical marijuana for individuals with specific debilitating diseases or com- parable debilitating condi- tions as determined by a licensed state physician.
Amendment 2 was also de- signed to require the Depart- ment of Health to regulate marijuana production and distribution centers and issue identification cards for pa- tients and caregivers.
The Florida Constitution provides that unless other- wise specified, approved amendments become effec- tive on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January following the election.
gate by buying in advance. The 113th Florida State Fair is scheduled for Febru- ary 9 through 20 at the Florida State Fairgrounds, lo- cated at I-4 and US Hwy 301 in Tampa. This year’s theme, “Picture Yourself at the Fair,” emphasizes all of the unfor-
gettable moments waiting to be captured - all at an excel- lent price and always with free parking.
Ride armbands good for any one day of the Fair (in- cluding weekends and holi- days) are $30 - a savings of $5 on both.
amendment will now have to be ironed out, because a new set of rules will have to be adopted and implemented by the Florida Legislature and the Department of Health. Initiative Design
The legal language of Amendment 2 was written to explicitly to allow medical marijuana to be provided as a treatment for patients with the following specific dis- eases: cancer, epilepsy, glau- coma, HIV, AIDS, post-traumatic stress disor- der (PTSD), amyotrophic lat- eral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis.
Amendment 2 was also designed to allow licensed physicians to certify patients for medical marijuana use after diagnosing them with some "other debilitating medical conditions of the same kind or class as or com- parable to those enumerated.
Legalized Medical Marijuana Went Into Effect January 3rd: What Does This Mean?
As Amendment 2 did not provide specific effective dates, it went into effect on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. The Department of Health must now set regulations for the issuance of identification cards, qualifications and standards of care givers and registration of medical mari- juana treatment centers within six months of the ef- fective date.
However, the kinks in the
Rocco's Tacos and Tequila Bar wasn't the reason Blue Martini Lounge is vacating International Plaza in Tampa, the founder of Rocco's said Monday.
Co-owner Rocco Mangel, who owns his namesake con- cept with the partners of South Florida-based Big Time Restaurant Group, said the partnership had been looking for a location on Florida's West Coast for four years be- fore settling on the Blue Mar- tini space.
The deal is done and the Blue Martini will be closed on January 14, after a spokes-
woman said that officials could not negotiate the terms for a new lease with Taubman Centers, the Michigan-based company that owns and oper- ates International Plaza. Mall officials declined to com- ment.
Blue Martini has been open at International Plaza for 15 years, plans to relocate elsewhere in Tampa, but offi- cials have yet to secure a new location, according to a press release. The company oper- ates lounges in malls in Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Las Vegas.
The Blue Martini is officially out of the mall, however the com- pany plans on opening in a different location in Tampa.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2017