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House passes medical marijuana implementing bill, sends to Senate

in Statewide by

The House overwhelming approved its version of a medical marijuana implementing bill, setting the bill up for final negotiations with the Senate later this week. The House voted 105-9 to approve a bill (HB 1397) that would implement the 2016 medical marijuana constitutional amendment. “Understanding the level of pain and the level of need patients have … there is no way I would block this type of legislation,” said Rep. Amy Mercado, who voted against the bill in its first…

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House medical marijuana implementing bill headed to the floor

in 2017 by

A House panel advanced an amended version of the lower chamber’s medical marijuana implementing bill, preparing the bill for a vote by the full House in the coming weeks. But with two weeks left until the scheduled end of the 2017 Legislative Session, the House and Senate continue to be at odds when it comes to implementing the 2016 constitutional medical marijuana amendment. While Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, the sponsor of House bill (HB 1397), had hoped to present a…

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Senate panel OK’s amendment to limit number of retail locations allowed to dispense medical marijuana

in 2017 by

A medical marijuana bill advanced through a key Senate panel Tuesday, picking up an amendment that would limit the number of retail locations allowed to dispense medical marijuana. The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee approved a bill (SB 406) by Sen. Rob Bradley to implement the 2016 medical marijuana constitutional amendment. The proposal, among other things, calls on the Department of Health to issue five new licenses —at least one of which must be a black farmer —…

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House Appropriations Committee clears medical marijuana bill, despite concerns from advocates

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A House panel cleared the lower chamber’s medical marijuana implementing bill, despite continued concerns from advocates who said the measure doesn’t go far enough. The House Appropriations Committee approved a bill (HB 1397) by Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues that would implement the 2016 medical marijuana constitutional amendment. The proposal now heads to the Health & Human Services Committee, the final stop before a vote of the full House. The bill, among other things, calls for a 90-day waiting period before…

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Is the Senate on the right path on medical marijuana?

in Peter/Top Headlines by

The Senate, with the revised version of SB 406, appears to be on what is a fairly balanced means of implementing Amendment 2. Is that my opinion?  Maybe. But, as of yesterday, even the intrepid Ben Pollara sent an email saying (and I quote), “The Senate bill puts Patients First…” while most parties in attendance at the recent committee hearing waived in support. Not all, but most. That’s a far cry from where this was a few short weeks ago.…

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Unless changes made, Joe Redner says he’ll sue over Legislature’s medical marijuana bill

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Advocates of Amendment 2, which legalized medical marijuana in Florida, have been expressing disdain for HB 1397, moving through the Legislature this Session, sponsored by Fort Myers Republican Ray Rodrigues. “Folks, this bill is bad,” wrote Ben Pollara, head of United for Care, the organization that campaigned for the constitutional amendment that passed with more than 71 percent support of Floridians last fall. “If passed, it would basically cancel out the vote we had last fall, if not make the situation worse,” Pollara…

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House Health Quality Subcommittee approves medical marijuana implementing bill

in 2017 by

A House panel approved legislation Tuesday that would implement the 2016 medical marijuana constitutional amendment, despite concerns from some advocates the proposal doesn’t honor the spirit of the amendment. The House Health Quality Subcommittee voted overwhelmingly to approve a bill (HB 1397) that would implement the 2016 constitutional amendment. Sponsored by House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, the bill would, among other things, maintain the current vertically integrated regulatory structure, only allow terminally ill patients to use vaporizers or consume cannabis…

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