Florida Health Regulators’ Proposed Medical Marijuana Rules Undercut Voter-Approved Amendment

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NORML | January 26, 2017

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Proposed rules by the Florida Department of Health to regulate the dispensing of medical cannabis are contrary to the intent of Amendment 2, the ballot initiative approved by 71 percent of voters on Election Day.

Specifically, the draft rules would not permit physicians to recommend cannabis therapy to patients with chronic pain – instead limiting patients to those with one of ten qualifying conditions.

As approved by voters, the Amendment provides…

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Week in Review: Florida’s restrictive plan, slow returns in NH & Pennsylvania app processs

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By Bart Schaneman, Omar Sacirbey and John Schroyer

Florida’s draft medical marijuana rules would bar new entrants, New Hampshire dispensaries have a ways to go before breaking even, and Pennsylvania releases MMJ business applications.

Here’s a closer look at some notable developments in the marijuana industry over the past week.

Work in progress

Entrepreneurs angling to capitalize on Florida’s new MMJ program may be out of luck – if state health regulators have their way. MMJ advocates, however, are confident this week’s draft…

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Public Forums Announced to Debate Proposed Florida Medical Marijuana Rules

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NORML | January 18, 2017

Floridians voted overwhelmingly in favor of Amendment 2 on Election Day, passing the measure intended to regulate the production and dispensing of medical cannabis to any patient who is diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition by their doctor.

However, newly proposed rule by the Department of Health seek to significantly amend this legislation in a manner that is contrary to patients’ needs.

Specifically, the rules would limit those patients who may qualify for cannabis…

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FL regulator gives patients, doctors OK to buy medical cannabis

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A top Florida cannabis regulator said people who qualify for medical marijuana can begin buying the drug within 90 days, months before the state even implements rules governing the new MMJ program.


Precision Extraction SolutionsThe timing of the start of MMJ sales – and whether they could occur before the rollout of the medical cannabis regulations – has been a source of confusion among doctors, patients and businesses, CBS Miami reported.

Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment in November to establish a full-fledged medical cannabis program allowing…

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New Market: Florida’s big MMJ program could be limited by lack of licenses

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This is the fourth article in a series looking at the potential cannabis market in each of the eight states that approved recreational or medical marijuana initiatives in the 2016 election. Check back each week through mid-January for new entries. Click here for previous installments.

By Bart Schaneman

Florida’s new medical marijuana market is poised to become one of the largest in the nation, yet a limited number of available MMJ business licenses could hinder the program’s growth.

Seventy-one percent of Florida voters last month…

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Voters In Eight States Approve Marijuana Law Reform In Unprecedented Election Victories

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NORML | November 10, 2016

WASHINGTON, DC — Millions of Americans cast votes on Election Day in favor of sweeping statewide marijuana law reforms.

Voters in four states: California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada approved ballot measures legalizing the adult use of cannabis and licensing its commercial production and retail sale. Voters in four additional states: Arkansas, Florida, Montana, and North Dakota approved initiatives legalizing and/or expanding the use and dispensing of cannabis for therapeutic…

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Four States End Marijuana Prohibition, Three Adopt Medical Marijuana Laws in Historic Election

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Marijuana Policy Project | November 9, 2016

WASHINGTON — California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada voted to end marijuana prohibition and Arkansas, Florida, and North Dakota adopted medical marijuana laws Tuesday in the most momentous election to date for marijuana policy reform.

Montana approved an initiative to re-establish patients’ access to medical marijuana providers, which was hindered by state lawmakers, and create a more regulated system of medical marijuana production and distribution.

As of 4:30…

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Florida Legalizes Medical Marijuana: Amendment 2 Passes with Over 70% of Vote

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Scott Gacek | November 8, 2016

Florida voters have overwhelmingly approved allowing medical marijuana just two years after a similar measure failed to garner the 60% approval needed to pass.  This time, voters said a resounding “yes” on Election Day.

With over 89% of precincts reporting as of 9:30 PM, Amendment 2 had earned 71.2% of the vote.

“This is a major tipping point: With Florida’s decision, a majority of states in the U.S. now have laws allowing patients to find relief with medical marijuana, and…

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Marijuana Wins Big on Election Night

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Drug Policy Alliance | November 9, 2016

This Election Day was a watershed moment for the movement to end marijuana prohibition, with the results expected to accelerate efforts to legalize marijuana in states across the U.S., at the federal level, and internationally.  Overall, legalization initiatives prevailed in four out of five states, and medical marijuana initiatives prevailed in all four states this year.

Votes are still being counted for legalization initiatives in Maine and Arizona, as well as for a medical…

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Florida Becomes 1st State in the South to Approve Medical Marijuana

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Drug Policy Alliance | November 8, 2016

Florida voters have approved the state’s medical marijuana initiative, Amendment 2.  This victory makes Florida, with its huge population and bellwether status in American politics, the first state in the South to adopt a medical marijuana law.

The new law instructs the Department of Health to register and regulate centers that produce and distribute marijuana for medical purposes, and issue identification cards to patients and caregivers. Individuals with cancer, epilepsy,…

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Latest Polling Information for the 2016 Marijuana Related Ballot Proposals

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Danielle Keane | November 5, 2016

On Tuesday, November 8, nine states will be voting on marijuana related ballot proposals potentially doubling the number of states that allow the recreational use of marijuana and expanding the therapeutic benefits of marijuana use to millions of Americans. Here’s where these measures stand in the latest polls.

Arizona: According to an October Arizona Republic/Morrison/Cronkite poll, 50 percent of registered voters in Arizona favor Proposition 205 and 42 percent oppose it. The…

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Marijuana firms across nation fund pro-MMJ bid in Florida

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Out-of-state-donors, including some prominent marijuana businesses, have pumped money into the campaign to legalize medical marijuana in Florida, underscoring the high-stakes fight in that state.

Of the three states – Florida, Arkansas and North Dakota – that could legalize medical marijuana on Tuesday, Florida is by far the largest market and offers out-of-state cannabis businesses potentially lucrative opportunities.

Denver-based social media company MassRoots, Denver edibles firm Allied Concessions Group and Washington State-based…

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Election 2016: Marijuana Law Reform Takes Center Stage

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Drug Policy Alliance | November 2, 2016

This Election Day is shaping up to be a watershed moment for efforts to end marijuana prohibition, with five states voting on marijuana legalization and four more on medical marijuana. The results are expected to have major ramifications for marijuana law reform in states across the U.S., at the federal level, and even internationally.

A recent nationwide Gallup poll found that a record 60 percent of respondents support legalizing marijuana, but polls on this year’s…

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Florida NORML sues, saying MMJ legalization left off some ballots

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The Florida chapter of NORML said it is suing a county elections commissioner after Amendment 2, a state ballot initiative to broaden Florida’s medical marijuana program, was found to be missing from some ballots.

The scope of the problem is unknown, but the suspect ballots were distributed in Broward County – one of Florida’s largest counties – the Sun Sentinel reported.


Conference Deadline ApproachingNORML wants a judge to order the county to stop distributing any additional ballots until the problem is resolved. The group also wants an “emergency plan”…

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NORML Sues Over Missing Ballot Item in Florida

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Keith Stroup | October 21, 2016

The Florida’s chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) has filed a civil lawsuit against the Broward County Commissioner of Elections, after media and news reports revealed that mail in ballots have been sent to voters omitting the state’s medical marijuana constitutional amendment.

The claim was just filed by NORML’s national vice chairman, Fort Lauderdale attorney Norm Kent, and his law partner, Russell Cormican, on behalf of…

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