Pubdate: Wed, 18 Jun 2014 Source: Los Angeles Times (CA) Copyright: 2014 Los Angeles Times Contact: http://www.latimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248 Author: Maya Srikrishnan MEDICAL POT GAINS GROUND IN TWO STATES Since California passed the nation's first medical marijuana bill in 1996, many states have been following suit, but some - most recently Florida and New York - still grapple with what medical marijuana legislation should look like. New York Assemblyman Richard Gottfried introduced his first version of a medical marijuana bill the year after California passed its bill, and this week the legislation, the Compassionate Care Act, is the closest it's come to passing the state Assembly and Senate. The last hurdle is Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who came out in opposition to several of the bill's provisions. Gottfried and the New York senator sponsoring the Senate bill, Diane Savino, turned in an amended version Monday night in hopes it will be voted on before the legislative session ends Thursday. "We're definitely optimistic," said Jason Elan, a Savino spokesman. "This is certainly the closest we've ever been." But on New York public radio Tuesday morning, Cuomo said that even with the amendments, he still wouldn't sign the bill because legislators wouldn't budge on a few issues. "If we can address the concerns, there will be a bill," Cuomo said. One of the biggest issues is whether to prohibit the smoking of medical marijuana. Cuomo has said smoking should not be allowed. The Compassionate Care Act would be one of the most highly regulated state medical marijuana laws. The act would ban smoking for anyone younger than 21, although the drug could be administered through a vaporizer, edible form or oil. The bill would also allow patients to be administered marijuana only under the supervision of a professional - specifically, a doctor or a nurse practitioner supervised by a physician. The bill is separate from the medical marijuana research program launched by the governor this year, which granted permission to 20 hospitals to provide such treatment to patients with serious illnesses. In Florida, Republican Gov. Rick Scott on Monday signed two bills, collectively called Charlotte's Web, to legalize the use of a non-euphoric strain of marijuana to treat conditions such as epilepsy, Lou Gehrig's disease and cancer. The laws are not related to a more expansive medical marijuana referendum up for vote in the state in November. "As a father and grandfather, you never want to see kids suffer," Scott said in a statement. "I am proud to stand today with families who deserve the ability to provide their children with the best treatment available." If Florida approves the referendum, it will be the first state in the Southeast to do so and may become the biggest market outside California, according to the National Cannabis Industry Assn. The association estimates medical marijuana will be a $785-million industry in the state. "It is an excellent first step," said Cerise Naylor, executive director of the Florida Medical Cannabis Assn. "Florida is a very conservative state, and I would've never believed it would've happened." Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia have laws that permit the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, though they vary widely. Pennsylvania also has pending legislation on the issue. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom