It’s Official: Medical Marijuana Will Be on the Ballot For 2016 in Florida
Monday, February 8, 2016
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health LawA proposed constitutional amendment to allow medical use of marijuana in Florida will be back on the ballot in November of 2016. On Wednesday, the Florida Division of Elections said the proposed amendment to legalize medical marijuana has met requirements to appear on the state’s ballot. If passed, the amendment would allow doctors more freedom to prescribe marijuana for people with “debilitating conditions” such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy or multiple sclerosis.To read more on the proposed amendment, click here. Will It Pass This Time Around?Supporters of the medical marijuana initiative expressed confidence that the proposed amendment would pass two years after a similar initiative fell short. In 2014, the amendment received support from 58 percent of voters, falling just shy of the required 60 percent. The group known as United for Care, announced its petition for the “Use of Marijuana for Debilitating Conditions” had surpassed the required number of signatures. As of Wednesday, county supervisors reported that 692,981 signatures were submitted on behalf on the medical marijuana initiative, more than enough to qualify for November’s ballot.
To learn more on United for Care (now known as Florida for Care), read this article on
American Marijuana.
What If It Passes?The measure is expected to be listed as Amendment 2, the same as it was in 2014. The amendment would legalize medical marijuana on a broader scale than the Florida Legislature’s Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act, passed in the spring of 2014. The new amendment if passed, will give doctors more leeway to prescribe medical marijuana. With a deadline set at January 31 for petitions, it is unlikely that any others will cross the 683,149 threshold required to appear on the ballot.To read one of my latest blogs on the status of medical marijuana in Florida, click here. Comments?What are your thoughts on the availability of medical marijuana in Florida? Do you agree with the expansion of the medical marijuana program? Please leave any thoughtful comments below.
Contact Experienced Health Law Attorneys for Medical Marijuana Concerns.The Health Law Firm attorneys can assist health care providers and facilities, such as doctors, pharmacists and pharmacies, wanting to participate in the medical marijuana industry. We can properly draft and complete the applications for registration, permitting and/or licensing, while complying with Florida law. We can also represent doctors, pharmacies and pharmacists facing proceedings brought by state regulators or agencies.To contact The Health Law Firm please call (407) 331-6620 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.Sources:Hale, Nathan. “Medical Marijuana Amendment Qualifies For 2016 Fla. Ballot.” Law360. (January 28, 2016). Web.Auslen, Michael. “Medical Marijuana Will Be on Florida’s Ballot in November.” Miami Herald. (January 27, 2016). Web. KeyWords: Florida medical marijuana, medical marijuana initiative, medical marijuana license, Charlotte’s Web, Amendment 2, United for Care, Use of Marijuana for Debilitating Conditions, medical marijuana lawyer, marijuana attorney, medical cannabis, Department of Health (DOH), Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act, medical marijuana regulations, medical license defense attorney, The Health Law Firm, health law attorney
“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of George F. Indest III, P.A. – The Health Law Firm, a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.Copyright © 1996-2016 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.
2/8/2016
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