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Sen. Brandes: Legislature Needs To Decide On Medical Marijuana

Lawmakers have tried and failed for years, but perhaps 2015 is the year medical marijuana comes to Florida.
Scott Beale via Flickr

Florida has a low-THC marijuana law on the books and narrowly rejected a constitutional amendment allowing broader medical use last year.  But Florida lawmakers are gearing up for further debate in the coming session.

Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) filed a medical marijuana bill Monday, expanding on last year’s so-called Charlotte’s Web law.  Brandes says it also addresses perceived shortcomings in the unsuccessful Amendment 2, but it’s important for the issue to go before the Legislature rather than be decided through the initiative process.

“I want it to be able to be vetted, I want it to be able to have public comment from those that are for it and against it, I want people to bring ideas to make it better,” Brandes says.  “Those are things that are offered in statute that are really difficult to offer in constitution.”

Brandes says he’s already heard from lawmakers in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle.  If his legislation is successful, Florida would join 23 other states and the District of Columbia already allowing medical marijuana.

Nick Evans came to Tallahassee to pursue a masters in communications at Florida State University. He graduated in 2014, but not before picking up an internship at WFSU. While he worked on his degree Nick moved from intern, to part-timer, to full-time reporter. Before moving to Tallahassee, Nick lived in and around the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years. He listens to far too many podcasts and is a die-hard 49ers football fan. When Nick’s not at work he likes to cook, play music and read.