Disappointed by the failure of last year’s medical marijuana amendment?
Well, it looks like we’re getting another — and more secure — chance, thanks to legislation filed Monday that would legalize medical marijuana for patients with certain conditions.
Last November we saw voters’ approval of medical marijuana in Florida; 57 percent voted in favor of the amendment. But thanks to another amendment to the state constitution approved in 2006, amendments must garner 60 percent of the vote in order to pass. As would only happen in Florida, that amendment passed with a “yes” from 57 percent of voters. Ironically, that particular majority rubber stamped an amendment ensuring any subsequent majorities of that size would be invalid.
Which is why, with a clear electoral majority, we are still without medical marijuana in Florida.
While we can’t rectify our re-election of a man who was able to slither his way out of the largest fraud settlement in history only by invoking the Fifth Amendment — 75 times — we may have another shot at legal medical marijuana.
Our great green hope, in this case, comes in the form of St. Petersburg Sen. Jeff Brandes.
Interestingly, Brandes belongs to the Republican Party — the party that so enthusiastically venerates Ronald Reagan, whose crusade against weed still earns him the ire of activists and stoners everywhere.
Maybe it’s because the times are changing; maybe it’s because of the broad support medical marijuana has in Florida. Maybe people saw the 23 states that allow medical marijuana haven’t yet descended into hellfire and ruin. Or perhaps it has something to do with cannabis’ proven ability to help the sick.
In fact, there already is a law on the books in Florida which recognizes this fact. Last year, a specific strain of marijuana, Charlotte’s Web, was legalized to treat seizures. The strain is famous in medical marijuana circles. Web has a potent amount of CBD, one of the two compounds in marijuana, but lacks THC. CBD produces calming, antipsychotic effects while THC is associated with the high. Charlotte’s Web actually used to be called “Hippie’s Disappointment,” before it was successfully used to treat a severely epileptic girl named Charlotte.
Unfortunately, this law hasn’t cut the mustard. It’s been so tied down by bureaucracy and challenges that the people who need Charlotte’s Web still aren’t able to get it. Brandes’ bill would cut through the obstacles, and provide marijuana to patients with other diseases.
A critique of Amendment 2 was its broad nature; opponents believed anyone able to fake a headache would get access to pot.
That won’t happen with this bill: Brandes listed specific illnesses for which patients can receive medical marijuana. These include HIV/AIDs, cancer, ALS, crohn’s disease and a few other debilitating diseases which marijuana may help alleviate.
Hopefully, Scott and his government are prepared to approve the bill and allow the sick Floridians to get help they need.
[A version of this story ran on page 6 on 1/28/2015 under the headline “Medical marijuana bill revives hope for Florida sick"]
