PRESS RELEASE: Statement from Ben Pollara on HB 1397
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 7, 2017
Contact: Vanessa Satterfield
Email: Press@floridaforcare.org
Statement from Ben Pollara, Executive Director of Florida for Care, on HB 1397:
"I believe Leader Rodrigues was sincere and thoughtful in his approach and authorship of this law, but I can't help but be dismayed by the House proposal. The bill begins by moving backwards in many ways critical to the letter and spirit of the constitution, and in some cases, the existing low-THC Cannabis statute.
In addition to banning smokable and edible marijuana products, HB 1397 bans the vaporization of marijuana oils, except for terminal patients. That is a further restriction than what even the current law allows.
HB 1397 also offers only a modest expansion of the marketplace for medical marijuana treatment centers and again takes a step backwards in doing so. Forget about government not being in the business of picking winners and losers, HB 1397 literally picks losers in the issuance of the first tranche of new licenses proposed in the legislation. The bill calls for the first five licenses issued to be awarded to applicants who previously applied for, but failed to win, a license under the current law.
Today is the start of session and I hope this bill is the start of a meaningful debate in the House over the merits of this approach and that as the bill moves through the process, it applies more free market principals."
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They aren’t listening to the 71%ers.
They don’t want to make money for schools, infrastructure, healthcare, etc.
They aren’t seeing how the marijuana industry creates good paying jobs.
They don’t see how opioid use has gone down in states that have legalized medical marijuana in ALL forms.
They don’t care about our American soldiers who need actual weed for to combat PTSD.
They don’t care that children are suffering with seizures.
They don’t care about people with chronic pain.
I could go on and on but one thing I know for sure is that when it comes time to #Vote again these legislators will be out of a job!
Dear Representative Mariano;
As the session comes to an end, we the 71% who voted for “full access to the cannabis plant” can only hope our representatives consider our concerns before implementing uncompassionate cannabis laws. I’ve written several times expressing my personal story which seem to fall upon deaf ears; today, I only discuss the “negative financial impact” of not offering patients full access.
It would be a major economic mistake to not allow patients access to vape or smoke flower buds; for one, it takes a lot of cannabis flower buds to extract a small percentage of oil. Just look at New York, it’s the only state where dispensaries are struggling financially to make ends meet. A lot of inherent overhead cost; such as, electricity, water, real estate, legal fees and employees comes with starting and maintaining a dispensary. New York failed to recognize one crucial economic fact with cannabis – “flower buds fund growing activities’”! In other words, it takes nearly 3 ounces of flower buds (valued between $600-800) to fill one vape pen containing 2.5 grams of oil valued under $40 – obviously the smarter economic choice is to offer both flower and oils.
As a patient who appreciates the privilege to “legally” use cannabis to relieve chronic pain in the comfort of my home, I will not live in a state where I am forced into “illegal actions” to seek out the black market for cannabis medications. Rest assured black market drug dealers will have cannabis flower buds and they will economically flourish; unfortunately for the state, patient numbers will grow, but dispensaries will only see minimal profits. Profits won’t come close to making the normal $10,000 daily profit other businesses experience; this is not an exaggeration, a little research on other states shows the ability to make ten grand represents a slow day in the cannabis billion-dollar industry.
Despite the State of Florida’s decisions to support the abuse of opioids; I do not, nor will I go back to taking dangerous prescription drugs. It will sadden my heart to leave my family again should the state decide to implement uncompassionate cannabis laws for patients. Since becoming a cannabis patient five years ago, my quality of life has dramatically improved and if you haven’t taken the time to read my other letters – please do so now. “Every patient concern and personal story matters”; more importantly, residents and patients will not forget – the same uncompassionate or compassionate actions given will be returned when it’s time to vote!
I think its unfair to ask patients to drive to Tallahassee just to have our voices heard; we live in the information age and these types of meetings can and should be conducted via Facebook live. I have tried to attend every meeting and have had no success in finding anyone who has the time to take off from work to drive to Tallahassee. I am not sure how effective writing and commenting is – if I could physically be there I would because we the patients feel SB1397 is not compassionate at all towards patients needs.
I recently returned from a vacation to Europe. It is hurtful that the State has not already implemented regulations for access to medical cannabis. Further, I am shocked that the Florida House of Representatives is even considering the backward movement in implementing the access to Medical Cannabis, as described in HB 1397. I know you understand that this measure passed by a 71% majority. Yet HB 1397 appears to be written by those who oppose Medical Cannabis. I’m sure you would not stand for your opposition setting your agenda if you won an election, let alone by the landslide that is 71%.
The legislation is short sighted and simply wrong based on actual experience and research conducted all over the world. Many places have direct experience with medical cannabis and their experiences are readily available for review. You cannot find a viable problem that was created by allowing access to medical Cannabis. This legislation appears to be attempting to solve problems that simply do not exist. The State legislating specifically who can run these businesses and how many there are, is wrong.
I urge you to vote NO on HB1397. Also, I implore you to work diligently to speed up the access to this medicine. The delays are unwarranted, other states and countries have experienced no down side by implementing access to medical marijuana and pretending Florida would is simply obstructionist. At this point it is cruel to further deny access to those who need the benefits of this medicine. "
All united For Care has too do is get me in there, once on the floor in front of the legislature I can talk about pain for hours, the damage done to my own body from them, and by not letting this bill pass as it should in the right way. Many Floridians will be dying from overdosing on cheap Heroin, and God knows what other kinds of street drugs!
we see who going make out know the people who need it!