Families who qualify for Florida’s small medical marijuana program could soon have access to the drug by summer. It’s been nearly two years since the Florida legislature approved the use of a non-euphoric strain of marijuana for certain conditions.
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The Florida Department of Health has built a regulatory framework, and approved five nurseries to dispense the marijuana. But now many of those businesses are embroiled in challenges from others who lost out on the five licenses to grow marijuana allocated under state law.
Still, Florida Department of Health Surgeon General John Armstrong says the Department is moving forward:
“Every step of the way we’ve been met by money interests. We will continue to work to overcome that, and I am heartened that all five of the growers have submitted letters requesting permission to cultivate. We’ve already approved one, and are working to get those inspections done as soon as possible," he said.
Florida’s current law allows a non-euphoric strain to be given for a few conditions such as epilepsy, ALS and cancer. Lawmakers approved the law in 2014.
A broader medical marijuana initiative will be before voters on the November 2016 ballot.
