Pubdate: Tue, 17 Nov 2015
Source: Bradenton Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2015 Bradenton Herald
Contact: http://www.bradenton.com/submit-letter/
Website: http://www.bradenton.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/58
Author: Michael Auslen

FLORIDA MEDICAL MARIJUANA PLAN EXPANDED TO 20 GROWERS

TALLAHASSEE -- Patients who have been given a year to live could soon
be allowed to use marijuana to ease their pain.

A Florida House panel on Tuesday OK'd legislation that would expand an
existing, small medical marijuana program and a law allowing terminal
patients to try experimental drugs. Now, with two doctors' approval, a
patient can buy marijuana from a licensed grower in the state.

"Cannabis should be the first option for patients, rather than the
last resort," said Rep. Katie Edwards, D-Plantation, speaking on
behalf of Cathy Jordan, a Parrish resident who has suffered from ALS
for 29 years. "No one should have to go through what I did to get
their medication."

Jordan, the president of the Florida Cannabis Action Network, has a
letter from the state attorney's office in Manatee County that allows
her to grow marijuana that has been prescribed to her.

But before OK'ing the bill (HB 307) by a 9-4 vote, the House Criminal
Justice Subcommittee tacked on new language that would quadruple the
number of licensed marijuana growers in the state from five to 20.

The Florida Department of Health is expected to announce five licensed
growers for cannabis that is low in high-inducing THC in the coming
weeks. Encouraged by a group of black farmers that met with the
Florida Legislative Black Caucus early this month, Rep. Randolph
Bracy, D-Orlando, pushed the amendment, which eliminates strict
requirements for potential growers.

Howard Gunn, Jr., president of the Florida Black Farmers and
Agriculturalists Association, has said that the five-nursery limit and
requirement that nurseries be in business for at least 30 years before
being licensed by the Department of Health has "systematically
excluded the black farmer."

"I believe if we don't remove these barriers to entry, we are creating
a monopoly for five dispensing organizations," Bracy said Tuesday. "I
believe it creates a competitive disadvantage, and I believe it
negates free-market principles."

Lawmakers passed the amendment after the bill's sponsor, Rep. Matt
Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, gave a thumbs-up, apparently encouraging a
group of committee members to vote yes.

Still, despite bipartisan support, some members already started to
raise questions about the larger number of nurseries that would be
allowed to grow marijuana if the bill passes.

"We've got a train wreck here," said Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, who
voted against the bill. "We've got confusion. Here's an amendment that
turned it upside down at the last minute."

A similar proposal will be considered Tuesday afternoon in the Senate
Health Policy committee
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MAP posted-by: Matt