Florida Legislature Considers Increased Access to Medical Marijuana

As Florida begins the process of solidifying its medical marijuana rules, patients and business owners want to see better access to medicine and more accessibility. Currently, Amendment 2 would create a monopoly-like setup, which many patients, lawmakers and even businesses find alarming. A monopoly could create price structures that make it difficult for Floridians to afford their medicine.

The current setup in Florida is considered to be a form of vertical integration, according to News-Press. Patients and doctors across the state want to see a wider variety of the medication offered statewide. They’re also seeking affordable access and more dispensaries for access.

A veteran, Bill Cody, said, “Vertical integration harms veterans. It limits innovation and raises prices. It’s a jackpot for a lucky few.”

Patients statewide need and want access sooner rather than later.

All seven licensees for medical marijuana facilities have been cleared to sell medical marijuana. Doctors are already providing medical marijuana recommendations, and the current patient base already exceeds 4,000.

The difficulty that faces lawmakers is deadlines to implement rules. Those are fast approaching and there is much left to discuss. Senator Rob Bradley wants to use a scale-expansion, which would allow for more dispensaries as the patient-base grows.

Senator Jeff Brandes wants to completely overhaul the current scheme and wants to offer a variety of licenses including separate licenses for growers, producers, distributors and sellers.

Ben Pollara, of Floridians for Care, said, “Both embrace the language of the amendment. There is enormous room for reasonable debate about those.”

Brandes’ bill is a very large expansion that would provide better diversity of product and more access.

Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve, said, “The Bradley bill is a good starting point for discussion.”

Bradley’s bill would nix the 90-day waiting period for patients to be treated by physicians to receive a recommendation. Physicians would also be able to “order” a 90-day supply for patients, rather than a 45-day period. The training course would also be cut in half from 8-hours to just 4-hours.

Many are hoping that expansions to the program will reduce cost, as some Floridians are having to pay upwards of $1k/month for their medicine.