Florida Politics 
By Jacob Ogles

Florida could be first state to limit THC in smokable medical marijuana

A legislative proposal could make Florida the first state to regulate tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, levels in smokable medical marijuana.

Rep. Ray Rodrigues, an Estero Republican, earlier this year sponsored legislation (HB 7117) to limit the levels.

The bill was sent to the House floor but awaits a vote. The Senate has not acted on the issue.

Now, Rodrigues has filed an amendment with the 10 percent THC cap to a health care licensing bill (SB 188) already passed by the Senate. He wants the measure added before the House approves the legislation.

That bill, on the “special order” calendar, is scheduled to be heard in the House Tuesday night. That means members can ask questions about the measure and offer amendments.

read the full text here

The House Appropriations Committee will be taking HB 7117 up tomorrow Tuesday 4/9 at 10:30 AM for a VOTE. Last Wednesday morning over objections from many lawmakers, the Health and Human Services Committee of the Florida House approved PCB HHS 19-02 from Ray Rodrigues which became HB 7117.

This bill has a lot of VERY BAD issues mixed in with a few good things like a veteran ID card discount FFC has been fighting for and emergency rulemaking. See some of these below and read the full bill as well, but before you do that make sure you CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS below and tell them about all of the negatives in this bill for patients. They are so BAD many veterans went all the way to Tallahassee to speak against this! (Video below) These need to be amended, or they need to NOT pass this bill!! 71% of Florida did not vote for 10%! Patients are just asking that the legislature give them what 71% of Florida voted for, whole cannabis medicine! Call Your Elected Officials!

HB 7117 is Negative for Patients because it would:
-Cap THC Limits to 10% on flower products
-Further limit patients to a 35 day supply
-Add further limitations for 18+ and pediatric patients
-Push back testing regulations further

Here is the bottom line:

-This bill will actually make patients have to smoke more to get the relief they need (The House led the charge against smoking and now will cause more for patients to get the relief they need)

-This bill will basically be a tax on patients (Patients will have to spend and consume more driving them to the black market)

-They want to test to make sure THC isn't too high, is that for just THC, or THC-A & THC-B or anything else?(Do they know there is more then just THC and CBD in this plant? They havent even gotten their testing or research regulations implemented correctly and yet keep adding more)

-Limiting THC will not stop with just edibles and smoked cannabis, they will claim this about other products next if they can find one study to back up their claim (This is AS BAD OR WORSE then their genius idea for a 90 day wait way back)

-This bill needs its negatives amended or this bill must be stopped. 71% Did not vote for 10% limitations and they are asking for lawsuits all while hurting patients AGAIN! Maybe they should amend it to 71%!

You can find the full Bill details here: https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sect…/Bills/billsdetail.aspx…

If you can contact your legislators the best way is to do so is below:
Appropriations Committee

Chair
W. Travis Cummings (R)
Travis.Cummings@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 717-5018

Vice Chair
Dane Eagle (R)
(850) 717-5077
Dane.Eagle@myfloridahouse.gov

Democratic Ranking Member
Kionne L. McGhee (D)
(850) 717-5117
Kionne.McGhee@myfloridahouse.gov

Bryan Avila (R)
(850) 717-5111
Bryan.Avila@myfloridahouse.gov

Cord Byrd (R)
(850) 717-5011
cord.byrd@myfloridahouse.gov

Ben Diamond (D)
(850) 717-5068
Ben.Diamond@myfloridahouse.gov

Bobby DuBose (D)
(850) 717-5094
Bobby.DuBose@myfloridahouse.gov

Nicholas X. Duran (D)
(850) 717-5112
Nicholas.Duran@myfloridahouse.gov

Joe Geller (D)
(850) 717-5100
joseph.geller@myfloridahouse.gov

Kristin Jacobs (D)
(850) 717-5096
Kristin.Jacobs@myfloridahouse.gov

Evan Jenne (D)
(850) 717-5099
Evan.Jenne@myfloridahouse.gov

Mike La Rosa (R)
(850) 717-5042
Mike.LaRosa@myfloridahouse.gov

Chris Latvala (R)
(850) 717-5067
Chris.Latvala@myfloridahouse.gov

Thomas J. ''Tom'' Leek (R)
(850) 717-5025
Tom.Leek@myfloridahouse.gov

MaryLynn Magar (R)
(850) 717-5082
MaryLynn.Magar@myfloridahouse.gov

Ralph Massullo, Jr. (R)
(850) 717-5034
Ralph.Massullo@myfloridahouse.gov

Cary Pigman (R)
(850) 717-5055
Cary.Pigman@myfloridahouse.gov

Scott Plakon (R)
(850) 717-5029
Scott.Plakon@myfloridahouse.gov

Rene Plasencia (R)
(850) 717-5050
Rene.Plasencia@myfloridahouse.gov

Holly Merrill Raschein (R)
(850) 717-5120
Holly.Raschein@myfloridahouse.gov

Paul Renner (R)
(850) 717-5024
Paul.Renner@myfloridahouse.gov

Ray Wesley Rodrigues (R)
(850) 717-5076
Ray.Rodrigues@myfloridahouse.gov

Carlos Guillermo Smith (D)
(850) 717-5049
Carlos.Smith@myfloridahouse.gov

Chris Sprowls (R)
(850) 717-5065
Chris.Sprowls@myfloridahouse.gov

Richard Stark (D)
(850) 717-5104
Richard.Stark@myfloridahouse.gov

Jay Trumbull (R)
(850) 717-5006
Jay.Trumbull@myfloridahouse.gov

Barbara Watson (D)

(850) 717-5107
barbara.watson@myfloridahouse.gov

Jayer Williamson (R)
850) 717-5003
jayer.williamson@myfloridahouse.gov

Clay Yarborough (R)
(850) 717-5012
clay.yarborough@myfloridahouse.gov

Appropriations Committee Hearing: Tuesday 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM Webster Hall 212 Knott Click Appear at meeting

Fired up: Trulieve Tallahassee dispensary first to sell smokable medical marijuana in Florida

Up in smoke: Gov. DeSantis signs Bill into law killing ban on smokable medical marijuana

Miami Beach officially dropped the ban proposal on March 13 after the public sutnick hour and having received many emails opposing.

watch the meeting HERE

We need residents to come Residents can speak for 3 minutes during Sutnick hour, about why this doesn't work and give their suggestions. Some things we have heard are:

"Delivery is not enough, they only deliver once in my area"

"Patients shouldn't have to leave their homes or doctors to travel to the closest dispensary if they are unable to wait"

"Patients may not be able to get delivery at work, home, or be there the 1 day per week most dispensaries deliver and some will not deliver all of their products at all times some are only sold on locations"

"This all costs patients more money and for them to leave Miami Beach, delivery drivers increase traffic, and dont contribute to Miami Beach economy"

"These are not even like CVS or Walgreens as they only carry products they produce, meaning 1-3 is not enough by any means"

Tell your personal story and how these bans will be bad for patients!

Mayor and Commissioner Contact information 

Mayor Gelber phone: 3056737035
Mayor Gelber email: DanGelber@miamibeachfl.gov

Commissioner Micky Steinberg phone: 305.673.7103
Commissioner Micky Steinberg email: MickySteinberg@miamibeachfl.gov

Commissioner Mark Samuelian phone: 305.673.7104
Commissioner Mark Samuelian email: MarkSamuelian@miamibeachfl.gov

Commissioner Michael Góngora phone:305.673.7106
Commissioner Michael Góngora email: Michael@miamibeachfl.gov

Commissioner Joy Malakoff phone: 305.673.7125
Commissioner Joy Malakoff  email: joymalakoff@miamibeachfl.gov

Commissioner Ricky Arriola phone: 305.673.7107
Commissioner Ricky Arriola email: RickyArriola@miamibeachfl.gov

 
Commissioner John Elizabeth Alemán phone: 305.673.7102
Commissioner John Elizabeth Alemán email: JohnAleman@miamibeachfl.gov

FL Politics -Jim Rosica

The Senate Health Policy Committee on Monday OK’d the bill (SB 182) by Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican, but that was after amending it with language from chair Gayle Harrell, a Stuart Republican and health care consultant, that divided the panel.

The legislation first died on a 5-5 tie vote, was revived on a motion to reconsider, and the affirmative vote by Rouson, a St. Petersburg Democrat, put it over the top. Rouson said he changed his vote to move the bill along and ensure it wasn’t dead for the 2019 Legislative Session, which starts March 5.

Florida Pheonix - Lloyd Dunkelberger

The Florida House and Senate are poised to take up smokable pot bills in the first week of the 2019 session.

There are some differences in the bills that will have to be worked out. The House bill (HB 7015) allows adults to use smokable marijuana, but it prohibits the dispensaries from selling other whole-flower products. The House bill also bans children from smoking.

The Senate bill (SB 182) would require marijuana dispensaries to sell at least one type of pre-rolled, filter-less cigarettes and allow them to sell other whole-flower products. It would allow sick children to smoke if approved by a second opinion from a pediatrician.

Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, who recently appointed the state’s first cannabis director, says she supports the legislation with the “least amount of restrictions.”

Forbes

By Tom Angell

Tuesday’s election results were a mixed bag for partisans: Democrats regained control of the House, while Republicans extended their Senate majority.

But one clear winner in the midterm elections was marijuana.

Michigan voters approved a ballot measure making their state the first in the midwest to legalize cannabis.

Missouri approved an initiative to allow medical marijuana, as did Utah.

Voters in several Ohio cities approved local marijuana decriminalization measures, and a number of Wisconsin counties and cities strongly approved non-binding ballot questions calling for cannabis reform.

Read the full article here 

NPR

Brian Chapell

Voters in Michigan approved a ballot measure to legalize recreational use of marijuana on Tuesday, and two other states — Missouri and Utah — endorsed medical marijuana laws. Voters in North Dakota didn’t partake, rejecting a measure to legalize recreational marijuana use.

There are now 33 U.S. states that have legalized marijuana to some degree, and recreational pot use is now legal in 10 states, along with Washington, D.C. But possessing, selling or using marijuana remains illegal under federal law.

Coming into the Nov. 6 vote, both Michigan and North Dakota already had medical marijuana laws in place. Utah and Missouri didn’t have far-reaching legislation on the books, though Missouri had lightened the potential penalties for first-time offenses.

Read the full article here