Cannabis Legislation – Natural Revolution http://naturalrevolution.org Empowering Natural Living Fri, 26 Apr 2019 12:12:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.1.1 41645207 The Anti-Cannabis Blacklist: Companies and Organizations Against Cannabis http://naturalrevolution.org/the-anti-cannabis-blacklist-companies-and-organizations-against-cannabis/ http://naturalrevolution.org/the-anti-cannabis-blacklist-companies-and-organizations-against-cannabis/#respond Thu, 26 Apr 2018 14:54:03 +0000 http://naturalrevolution.org/?p=241739 In the 21st century, we still have an antiquated era of ideologies, misinformation, and propaganda against cannabis that shape and influence large companies and organizations, despite a growing number of states who have adopted some form of legislation to legalize cannabis. Between the multibillion-dollar government-controlled agencies like the DEA, Prison Unions, drug companies, people in ...

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anti-cannabis blacklist

In the 21st century, we still have an antiquated era of ideologies, misinformation, and propaganda against cannabis that shape and influence large companies and organizations, despite a growing number of states who have adopted some form of legislation to legalize cannabis.

Between the multibillion-dollar government-controlled agencies like the DEA, Prison Unions, drug companies, people in the private-sector and the FDA, among others, gain from keeping cannabis illegal, there lies a broad range of cannabis advocates and supporters -- people who do, in fact, have the necessary power to make cannabis legal at all levels of government.

The People have the power through voting with their dollars and being vigilant as possible in the efforts to end prohibition in the U.S. by not supporting companies and organizations that don't support cannabis. When we know which companies and organizations are against cannabis, only then can we make an informed decision.

This Anti-Cannabis Blacklist was put together in an effort so that we can be alerted to who is waging war against cannabis and keeping it illegal.

If you know of other companies or organizations you'd like us to add to this list, let us know in the comments below.

If you find this helpful, share it and help spread the information.

Companies

The AAA of Connecticut has lashed out against legal cannabis, claiming that the plant impairs drivers on public roads. Despite a handful of studies debunking the effects of cannabis on driving, the AAA is still persistent about its negative views surrounding the herb.

If legalized, marijuana would compete with alcoholic beverages for consumers. Since 2009, the beer, wine and liquor industry has spent at least $20 million each year on lobbying efforts, most of which have been focused on alcohol taxes and regulations. And during the 2016 election cycle, the industry gave $23 million to federal candidates, parties and committees. Since 1990, the total spending on lobbying efforts to politicians, both Democrats and Republican, from big booze has been $179 million.

Discount Tire, a leading tire and wheel retailer with over 900 locations across the US, is first on the list. In 2016, the Michigan-based business splurged $1 million on an anti-marijuana campaign under Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy in Opposition to Prop. 205. At the time, the main objective of the group was to curtail the momentum of pro-cannabis organizations campaigning for the full (recreational) legalization of the plant.

In 2016, DriveTime’s pledge to keep cannabis illegal in Arizona was issued at a very crucial time, as most of the donations to the opposing group were given in the final stretch of the battle. The $250,000 package was provided by Ernie Garcia, the owner of the business. DriveTime specializes in credit solutions for automotive purchases. In 2014, the business was fined $8 million by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) due to aggressive debt collection practices and inaccurate credit reporting to governing agencies.

Insys Therapeutics has opposed the legalization of cannabis from day one. The pharmaceutical brand is widely known for manufacturing and selling fentanyl (under Subsys), a synthetic opioid painkiller used by patients participating in chemotherapy treatments.

Interestingly, Insys was responsible for releasing an FDA-approved synthetic cannabinoid (dronabinol, under Syndros). The oral spray, which was classified as a Schedule II substance by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) earlier this year, is designed to stimulate the appetite of patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy.

Insys contributed to the efforts of Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy, and according to reports, the drug maker donated $500,000 to the campaign.

Retired police officer Howard Wooldridge, now an anti-drug war lobbyist, told the anti-corruption blog Republic Report in 2012 that one of the biggest opponents to marijuana legalization is the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), given that marijuana can replace drugs from “Advil, ibuprofen all the way to Vicodin, pills for nausea – I mean expensive store-bought pills.”

PhRMA is certainly an organization to be reckoned with: In 2014 alone, PhRMA spent about $16.6 million on lobbying, ranking it 11th in spending among all lobbying clients that year. And the drug manufacturing industry as a whole poured $14.7 million into the 2014 election cycle.

In Florida, one of the largest donations against cannabis came from Publix, a popular grocery chain brand in the state. Official records confirmed that $800,000 in contributions to Drug-Free Florida originated from the Carol Jenkins Barnett Family Trust. Some speculate that the company fought against cannabis legalization in order to protect its pharmaceutical establishments (Publix is one of the largest pharmacies in the area, according to Miami New Times, and therefore profits from the sale of prescription drugs that could be replaced by cannabis).

Contributing $1 million to anti-cannabis legalization is Mel Sembler, chairman emeritus of the Sembler Company, a commercial real estate firm. A major Republican fundraiser, he served as the U.S. ambassador to Italy and to Australia. Sembler and his wife, Betty, are co-founders of the Drug Free America Foundation, a group that supports drug-testing students, opposes taking a harm-reduction approach to drug addiction, and claims that “crude” marijuana is not medicine.

U-Haul, with its headquarters based in Phoenix, Arizona, joined several companies in the fight against Prop. 205. The business donated $25,000 to the opposing group with unclear motives for the offering. Compared to other donors, U-Haul has been very silent about its pledge. From a business perspective, cannabis prohibition is actually working against the brand, since illegal smugglers have been known to use the company’s trucks to transport large batches of the herb for unregulated consumption.

One of the most prolific anti-cannabis company to date is the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. The upbeat hotel is owned by billionaire tycoon Sheldon Adelson, who is also the owner of the Palazzo and CEO of the Sands Corporation. His net worth (projected by Forbes in 2017) is around $31 billion, giving him some serious funding power in the fight to keep cannabis illegal. Adelson’s contributions went to anti-marijuana campaigns in Arizona ($500,000), Massachusetts ($1 million) and Nevada ($2 million).

The Sands Corporation CEO also scooped up the Las Vegas Review-Journal for $140 million in 2015. Many believe he used the publication as a medium to fuel his anti-marijuana interests.

The second Las Vegas establishment to make it on the list is Wynn Resorts. Steve Wynn, owner, and CEO of the business donated $100,000 to a massive anti-cannabis campaign in Massachusetts backed by Governor Charlie Baker. This contribution was issued just one day before Wynn received the green light to move forward with a development project in Everett. Some groups speculate that his donation was used to “nudge” the application to the state Gaming Commission in the right direction.

Organizations

This 2,700 member physician society formed in the 1950s works to “promote the appropriate role of the physician in the care of patients with addiction,” according to its website. In July 2012, the group published a paper arguing that smoked marijuana “is not, and cannot be, a medicine.”

According to a September report published by The Intercept, the Beer Distributors PAC made a $25,000 contribution to the anti-legalization campaign in Massachusetts. The article references SEC filings made by the makers of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and Sam Adams beer.

Since 2013, Brown-Forman, the maker of Jack Daniel’s, has tossed legal marijuana in among “risk factors” — uncertainties and events that could affect the business and financial results — listed in its annual report.

Carla Lowe's political action committee in California was started to fight marijuana legalization efforts in California during the 2010 election. “CALM takes the position that federal laws against the use, cultivation, and transportation should be maintained and enforced and should not be relaxed or softened,” according to the organization's website.

Founded in 1992, CADCA has created programs and campaigns to help reduce tobacco, alcohol and drug use in communities across the U.S. and in other countries, including by returning veterans. “As a national organization that builds coalitions to prevent youth alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, CADCA has long believed that marijuana legalization is a bad idea that will increase youth drug use."

One of the largest for-profit prison companies, CoreCivic, formally Corrections Corporation of America, stated in a 2010 regulatory filing that laxer drug laws could shrink its bottom line: “[A]ny changes with respect to drugs and controlled substances or illegal immigration could affect the number of persons arrested, convicted and sentenced, thereby potentially reducing demand for correctional facilities to house them.” Essentially the legalization of any drugs, including cannabis would harm their profits. Since 2008, the Corrections Corporation of America has spent at least $970,000 a year on lobbying against varied interests, including changes to marijuana laws. However, in its federal lobbying reports, the corporation includes a disclaimer stating that it does not lobby for or against policies that would determine whether an individual is incarcerated.

This 501(c)3 organization works with the United Nations as a non-governmental organization to support “international policies and laws that will reduce illegal drug use and drug addiction.” 

They add that "Smoking [cannabis] is an ineffective and illogical way to deliver medicine – dosage cannot be regulated, and tar and other harmful compounds are delivered directly to the lungs. Other delivery methods aren't safer either; vaporizing does not filter cancer-causing tar or other chemicals, and eating delivers the same damaging compounds as well as the insecticides and fungi found in unmonitored crops." as stated on their website.

 

From Chief of Staff and Senior Legal Fellow, Charles Stimson states on the website that "Marijuana is an addictive, gateway drug. It significantly impairs bodily and mental functions, and its use is related to increased violence. These are facts." He then adds, "...clinical studies reveal that long-term, moderate consumption of the drug [marijuana] impairs short-term memory, slows reaction time, increases the risk of heart attack, and can result in birth defects, strokes, and damage to the respiratory system and brain." 

"No state will likely be allowed to legalize marijuana on its own due to negative cross-state spillover effects. Yet even if a state could do so, legalizing marijuana would serve little purpose other than to worsen the drug problem."

 

“Bursting the bubble of marijuana hype” is the slogan of the organization that works to create messaging to help parents teach their children to stay away from marijuana. The group also actively campaigns against medical and recreational legalization efforts in the states where ballot measures come to vote. 

The revenue from waging the War on Drugs has become a significant source of financial support for local law enforcement. Federal and state funding of the drug war – as well as the property that officers seize from Civil Asset Forfeiture as a part of drug raids – have become significant supplements to the budgets of local law enforcement.

While unions exert more influence at the local level, they have a presence in Washington as well. Every year since 2008, the National Fraternal Order of Police has spent at least $220,000 as a lobbying client. The National Association of Police Organizations has spent at least $160,000 a year. The International Union of Police Associations has laid out $80,000 every year. And the International Association of Chiefs of Police has spent $80,000 each year since 2009.

Prison guard unions have a vested interest in keeping nonviolent drug offenders behind bars. On the federal level, many prison guards are represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), one of the most politically active labor unions. During the 2014 election cycle, AFSCME gave more than $11 million to federal candidates, parties and committees. The union also spent $2.4 million to lobby in 2014.

If you know of other companies or organizations you'd like us to add to this list, let us know in the comments below.

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11-year-old Sues Federal Government to Legalize Medical Marijuana http://naturalrevolution.org/11-year-old-sues-federal-government-legalize-medical-marijuana/ http://naturalrevolution.org/11-year-old-sues-federal-government-legalize-medical-marijuana/#comments Tue, 25 Jul 2017 20:50:48 +0000 http://naturalrevolution.org/?p=240861 According to a press release on Alexis Bortell’s Facebook page, the 11-year-old is suing the U.S. federal government. Alexis Bortell is a self-proclaimed medical marijuana advocate who was born and raised in North Texas before moving to Colorado to gain legal access to medical marijuana to treat her seizures. She has a following of over 22,000 fans ...

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11-year-old Sues Federal Government to Legalize Medical Marijuana

Alexis Bortell poses with Jason Cranford and Haleigh’s Hope plant

According to a press release on Alexis Bortell’s Facebook page, the 11-year-old is suing the U.S. federal government.

Alexis Bortell is a self-proclaimed medical marijuana advocate who was born and raised in North Texas before moving to Colorado to gain legal access to medical marijuana to treat her seizures. She has a following of over 22,000 fans on her Facebook page, which was formerly known as “Team Alexis” and is now simply called “Alexis Bortell.”

She has a following of over 22,000 fans on her Facebook page, which was formerly known as “Team Alexis” and is now simply called “Alexis Bortell.”

Since starting treatment there, she has gone over 800 days without a seizure, has been featured in numerous documentaries, and has spoken at conventions and even written a book on the benefits and uses of medical marijuana.

Alexis Bortell poses with Jason Cranford and the Haleigh’s Hope plant. This is the strain Alexis’s oil is made from, and Cranford is the man who makes it.

“Most Texas Legislators don’t seem to care enough to fight for patients, so I will do it,” Bortell said. “I am only asking to be treated like everyone else and no one is listening to patients like me. Maybe now they will.”

Her hope to have medical cannabis reclassified

According to the press release, the lawsuit states that “plaintiffs demonstrate that the Federal Government does not, and could not possibly, believe that cannabis meets the definition of a Schedule I drug, which is reserved for the most dangerous of substances, such as heroin, LSD and mescaline.  By way of comparison, cocaine and crystal meth are considered Schedule II drugs and are thus considered less addictive and less dangerous.”

Along with 11-year-old Alexis Bortell, those bringing the complaint forward include retired Super Bowl Champion Marvin Washington, who hopes to open a business that allows players to treat with medical cannabis.

Then there’s 6-year-old Jagger Cotte, who suffers from Leigh’s Disease; disabled military veteran Jose Belen, who uses marijuana to control his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Lauren Rudick is a member of the law firm representing Cannabis businesses and the Cannabis Culture Association.

The defendants in this case will be the United States federal government, the Drug Enforcement Agency, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and Administrator of the DEA Chuck Rosenberg.

The lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of New York District Court and await a response.

Learn more about Alexis’s journey from Texas to Colorado click here

This story first appeared on www.thedentonite.com

Did you enjoy this article? If so, kindly share it and let us know what you think in the comments below. We welcome your input!

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Proposed Florida Ballot to Allow Growing Cannabis and Regulate Like Alcohol http://naturalrevolution.org/proposed-florida-ballot-allow-growing-cannabis-regulate-like-alcohol-4201111/ http://naturalrevolution.org/proposed-florida-ballot-allow-growing-cannabis-regulate-like-alcohol-4201111/#comments Fri, 09 Jun 2017 18:45:03 +0000 http://naturalrevolution.org/?p=240630 Marijuana advocacy group Sensible Florida created the ’’Regulate Florida’’ campaign to support the 2016 version of the measure, Florida Cannabis Act #16-02 which may appear on the ballot in Florida in 2020 as an initiated constitutional amendment that will include, among other things, legalizing the recreational use of cannabis and growing your own cannabis plants, with ...

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Marijuana advocacy group Sensible Florida created the ’’Regulate Florida’’ campaign to support the 2016 version of the measure, Florida Cannabis Act #16-02 which may appear on the ballot in Florida in 2020 as an initiated constitutional amendment that will include, among other things, legalizing the recreational use of cannabis and growing your own cannabis plants, with limiting quantities.

Regulate Marijuana in a Manner Similar to Alcohol to Establish Age, Licensing, and Other Restrictions” is the full name of the ballot initiative.

The amendment would legalize possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by residents at least 21 years old. Residents would also be allowed to cultivate up to six plants per household, but only three or fewer plants could be mature or flowering. The plants would need to be grown in “an enclosed, locked space,” and users would not be permitted to sell the plants they grow.

Without your help in signing this petition, an estimated 400,000 patients in Florida, including children, will continue to suffer at the hands of corrupt politicians and state regulators by keeping this medicine from being accessed by all who need it to ease their pain and suffering.

The petition needs over 700k petitions to qualify to be considered to be on the 2020 ballot. This is why it’s so important for everyone who is a Cannabis Warrior to help in this much-needed effort.

The proposed ballot summary is as follows:

BALLOT SUMMARY: Regulates marijuana (hereinafter “cannabis”) for limited use and growing by persons twenty-one years of age or older. State shall adopt regulations to issue, renew, suspend, and revoke licenses for cannabis cultivation, product manufacturing, testing and retail facilities. Local governments may regulate facilities’ time, place and manner and, if state fails to timely act, may license facilities. Does not affect compassionate use of low-THC cannabis, nor immunize federal law violations.

Proposed Florida Ballot to Allow Growing Cannabis and Regulate Like Alcohol

Download the petition here: www.dos.elections.myflorida.com/initiatives/fulltext/pdf/64837-2.pdf

After you download and sign the petition, please mail to:

Sensible Florida, Inc.
PO Box 25850
Tamarac, FL 33320

If you’d like to learn more about the ballot, visit www.ballotpedia.org/Florida_Cannabis_Act_(2018)

You are encouraged to print as many petitions as you can, either by your own, or with a group of friends or acquaintances, gather signatures at shopping malls, grocery storefronts, large retailers like Walmart, Target and other places that have a high volume of people like concerts, parties, and other events.

By helping in this worthwhile endeavor, you will potentially be helping over 400,000 sick patients who are living with the challenges of their illness every single day in Florida, who will absolutely benefit from the use of this miraculous plant – let compassion and empathy for patients rule and reclaim the right to have what the creator gave to us all!

Please SHARE this article with your family and friends to get the word out.

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Marijuana Legislation Filed to Free States From Federal Interference http://naturalrevolution.org/marijuana-legislation-filed-free-states-federal-interference-420710/ http://naturalrevolution.org/marijuana-legislation-filed-free-states-federal-interference-420710/#respond Thu, 30 Mar 2017 22:52:02 +0000 http://naturalrevolution.org/?p=239567 Today, Senator Ron Wyden and Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Jared Polis have introduced legislation in the House and Senate to permit states to establish their own marijuana regulatory policies free from federal interference. In addition to removing marijuana from the United States Controlled Substances Act, this legislation also removes enforcement power from the US Drug ...

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Today, Senator Ron Wyden and Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Jared Polis have introduced legislation in the House and Senate to permit states to establish their own marijuana regulatory policies free from federal interference.

In addition to removing marijuana from the United States Controlled Substances Act, this legislation also removes enforcement power from the US Drug Enforcement Administration in matters concerning marijuana possession, production, and sales — thus permitting state governments to regulate these activities as they see fit.

The first time introduction of this particular piece of legislation in the US Senate is another sign that the growing public support for ending our failed war on cannabis consumers nationwide is continuing to translate into political support amongst federal officials.

Send a message to your members of Congress urging them to support the Marijuana Revenue and Regulation Act by clicking this link http://bit.ly/2nQqHLg.

Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for qualified patients, while eight states now regulate the production and sale of marijuana to all adults. An estimated 63 million Americans now reside in jurisdictions where anyone over the age of 21 may possess cannabis legally.

If we are truly going to move our nation towards sensible marijuana policies, the removal of marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act is paramount. Annually, 600,000 Americans are arrested for nothing more than the possession of small amounts of marijuana and now is the time for Congress to once and for all end put an end to the national embarrassment that is cannabis prohibition. Passing this legislation would end the current conflict between state and federal laws and allow the states to implement more sensible and humane marijuana policies, free from the threat of federal incursion.

Now is the time: Tell Congress to end prohibition and regulate marijuana like alcohol by clicking this link http://bit.ly/2nQqHLg.

The ongoing enforcement of cannabis prohibition financially burdens taxpayers, encroaches upon civil liberties, engenders disrespect for the law, impedes legitimate scientific research into the plant’s medicinal properties, and disproportionately impacts communities of color.

By contrast, regulating the adult use of marijuana stimulates economic growth, saves lives, and has the support of the majority of the majority of Americans.

Use NORML’s pre-filled out letter to email your members of Congress NOW to support this effort by clicking this link http://bit.ly/2nQqHLg.

We also encourage you to call your members of Congress and respectfully let them know how you feel about this bill that was introduced and the importance of them supporting it. You can find the phone number of your representative in Congress’ at www.whoismyrepresentative.com.

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Cannabis Activists Go Unheard as Restrictive Medical Marijuana Bill Sails Through Committee http://naturalrevolution.org/cannabis-activists-go-unheard-as-restrictive-medical-marijuana-bill-sails-through-committee/ http://naturalrevolution.org/cannabis-activists-go-unheard-as-restrictive-medical-marijuana-bill-sails-through-committee/#comments Wed, 29 Mar 2017 20:36:52 +0000 http://naturalrevolution.org/?p=239490 A Florida House committee decided to move ahead with one of the strictest proposals to regulate medical marijuana in the Sunshine State on Tuesday, much to the chagrin of pro-pot advocates who have criticized the bill for going against the wants and desires of Florida voters. By a 14-1 vote, the House Health Quality subcommittee ...

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Cannabis Activists Go Unheard as Restrictive Medical Marijuana Bill Sails Through Committee

A Florida House committee decided to move ahead with one of the strictest proposals to regulate medical marijuana in the Sunshine State on Tuesday, much to the chagrin of pro-pot advocates who have criticized the bill for going against the wants and desires of Florida voters.

By a 14-1 vote, the House Health Quality subcommittee approved a measure which would have widespread limitations on how Florida patients consume medical pot.

Not only would smokeable cannabis be banned, but patients would also be barred from buying more than a 90-day supply of marijuana, edibles would be off-limits and “vaping” would only be allowed for terminal patients.

The way pot is ingested wouldn’t be the only way HB 1397, sponsored by Rep. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, would regulate the drug. The proposal also pushes limitations on dispensaries distributing medical pot as well.

Florida’s current seven dispensaries would be given first dibs on selling medical pot — after 150,000 patients enroll in the medical marijuana registry, the department would then, and only then, open up licensing to the second round of dispensaries.

After 200,000 patients register, the state would license five additional medical marijuana treatment centers, and allow three more for each 100,000 patients after that.

Medical pot users must also be Florida residents and register with the Florida Department of Health to get a medical marijuana card, which would be provided to patients after they had been seen by the same doctor for 90 days.

Under the new law, patients’ medical marijuana licenses aren’t permanent, either — they can easily be yanked if they are charged with a drug offense or if they are somehow “cured” of their debilitating ailment, which include cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, PTSD, Crohn’s disease and a handful of other conditions approved under Amendment 2.

Last fall, Florida voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to expand the use of medical marijuana in Florida. Seventy-one percent of voters voted in favor of Amendment 2, which is required to be fully implemented this year.

Pro-pot groups and medical cannabis advocates have criticized Rodrigues’ bill for being “too restrictive” and have advocated shutting down the legislation outright in favor of other “free market” bills like the one sponsored by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg.

“Nothing good can come from it,” Gulf Coast Canna Meds founder Tom Murphy said on the bill. “This bill enshrines the seven cartels and totally closes out any free enterprise people.”

Ben Pollara of United For Care, the group largely responsible for helping pass Amendment 2, said he hoped the bill would need to be amended significantly to make it palatable for pro-cannabis groups.

“HB 1397 would place such onerous and arbitrary barriers to access on medical marijuana patients that it’s practical effect would be to virtually negate the law passed by 71 percent of Floridians,” he told Sunshine State News.

Pollara also criticized the bill for receiving support from anti-drug groups and Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF), a group founded by Amendment 2 foe and Republican Party megadonor Mel Sembler.

“[DFAF executive director] Calvina Fay showed up today to express her support for the bill and thank the sponsor for including so many of her suggestions,” Pollara said. “It is more than a little mind boggling that one of the most prominent opponents of the Amendment’s passage would have such an outsized role in its implementation.”

Other proposals moving through the House would give DFAF $500,000 to “educate” Floridians on medical marijuana, something Pollara finds unsettling.

“The notion that folks like Fay, the Semblers and DFAF are helping to write this legislation and potentially receiving a $500,000 appropriation to ‘educate’ Floridians on medical marijuana makes me sick to my stomach,” Pollara said. “It’s really a slap in the face to sick and suffering patients in Florida.”

Rodrigues doesn’t see it that way, and instead believes his bill is following the letter of federal law to protect Florida from federal prosecution regarding national marijuana laws.

“I believe this is a measured approach to faithfully implement Amendment 2,” he explained.

The bill needs approval from two other House committees before heading to the floor for a full vote.

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Will Florida be a Pay-to-Play Medical Marijuana Industry? http://naturalrevolution.org/will-florida-pay-play-medical-marijuana-industry/ http://naturalrevolution.org/will-florida-pay-play-medical-marijuana-industry/#respond Fri, 10 Mar 2017 17:29:19 +0000 http://naturalrevolution.org/?p=240092 By Bill Monroe — When I attended meetings in Tallahassee back in 2013 I had heard from fellow cannabis advocates that the fix was in. That only certain groups out of Tallahassee would financially profit in the medical marijuana business in Florida, and that barriers to entry would be constructed to keep out the small ...

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PAY 2 PLAY FLORIDA?

By Bill Monroe — When I attended meetings in Tallahassee back in 2013 I had heard from fellow cannabis advocates that the fix was in. That only certain groups out of Tallahassee would financially profit in the medical marijuana business in Florida, and that barriers to entry would be constructed to keep out the small mom and pop entrepreneurs, people of color, woman ownership, and only allow the rich, white, and all male, politically connected to participate.

Representative Matt Caldwell

Representative Matt Caldwell – Created the 30 Year Grow Requirement

Early in 2014 the process to construct a vertically integrated, lawmaker protected, all white monopoly began to play out. It started when Representative Matt Caldwell along with FNGLA President at the time Ben Bulusky who came up with the 30 year grow requirement and 400,000 plant count. This requirement, which was inserted into the bill, without discussion or debate, allowed the market to be tailored to large growers. No riff raff, people of color, small hungry entrepreneurs would be allowed.

Representative Matt Gaetz

Representative Matt Gaetz – Creator of vertically integrated system with high barriers to entry

Later Representative Matt Gaetz, along with Senator Rob Bradley, constructed additional barriers to entry to include a vertically integrated system, five million dollar performance bond, requirement for a medical director, overreaching security, $60,000 non-refundable application fee for each region applied for by a grower, and the construction of five zones in Florida. The zones would turn out to be a joke as any grower, can grow anywhere within Florida, as long as they are granted permission by the Department of Health. In addition, each grower can have an unlimited number of dispensaries to include delivery services. Five zones? Media foolishness for the uninformed masses.

Tallahassee lobbyists such as Brian Ballard a Florida lobbyist, representative, President-elect Trump fundraiser, would step in to represent Hackney Farms, Southern Strategy Group would represent Costa Farms, good friends of Governor Rick Scott, and lobbyists Ron Book and Billy Rubin, would represent Alpha Foliage later called Alpha-Surterra, and Bascom Communications representing Chestnut Hill. Ironically enough Sarah Bascomm would brag on her web page of having defeated the first run of Amendment Two. Now her group in 2016 would be representing a soon to be a licensed grower.

The Department of Health rule-making committee, which worked on the rules and regulations prior to picking the five licensed growers consisted Costa Farms, Hackney Nursery, Knox Farms, Chestnut Hill, and Loops Nursery. Loops was the only nursery excluded from one of the five golden tickets providing them access to a $1.8 billion dollar Florida medical market, vertically integrated, and lawmaker protected via legislative barriers to entry, and high dollar Tallahassee lobbyists, who may have company shares in their blind trusts.

If you are lobbyist like Ron Book, Billy Rubin, Brian Ballard, who may own company stock in the five licensed growers, and have access to the Governor and President-elect Trump, you certainly have the financial motivation and leverage to maintain a monopoly going into 2017.

Representative Katie Edwards

Representative Katie Edwards – Fighting for a Monopoly in Florida

Who are the champions for maintaining this monopoly in Florida? First would be Representative Katie Edwards who has ties to the large growers in Florida, and over the past year fought against advocate advances to create a safe pesticide use program and independent cannabis testing. Every legal state has gone to independent testing, and a safe use pesticide program, but apparently Edwards does not feel this is a requirement for patients with compromised immune systems.

Senator Rob Bradley

Senator Rob Bradley – Fighting for a Monopoly in Florida

Next, we have Senator Rob Bradley who has recently stated we have enough growers for now, and once the patient count reaches 250,000 there is a very generous (Note sarcasm) benchmark in the bill to allow at least one license for people of color. How generous!

Senator Rob Bradley certainly has a financial incentive to maintain the growers as is limited to six, a monopoly, vertically integrated with complete control, and backed by high dollar Tallahassee lobbyists.

I searched the political action committee for Senator Rob Bradley, and noted that over 2015 and 2016 over $60,000 dollars was donated to Bradley’s PAC by Costa Farms, Southern Strategy Group, and Hackney Farms. In Mr. Bradley’s defense, he states that money has absolutely no effect on his decision making whatsoever. Right, do you believe that statement? That is a year’s salary for some hardworking Americans.

I reviewed the PAC Economic Freedom Foundation, now closed by Representative Matt Gaetz who developed the additional high barriers to entry. Gaetz received approximately $45,000 from Costa Farms and Alpha-Surterra. Gaetz was also quick to state that money had no effect on his decision making.

Going into 2017, and the construction of the Implementation bill, we can count on Representative Edwards and Bradley maintaining their position that a monopoly is good for Florida. A monopoly where not one of these licensed growers contributed one thin dime to Amendment Two, held educational classes, worked towards pesticide testing, participated with advocates, and lack a minority presence in the ownership and licensing.

Look, this is not about throwing hand grenades, and disrupting Florida’s medical marijuana program. This is about constructing a free market where diversity is allowed, advocates can educate the public, mom and pop entrepreneurs can participate, and winners and losers are decided by the free market system, and not politically connected high dollar lobbyists, and pay-for-play lawmakers.

Senator Jeff Brandes

Free Market Champion, Senator Jeff Brandes

We have a champion in our midst. His name is Senator Jeff Brandes who demands a free market system with additional licenses. Mr. Brandes deserves our support, while Edwards and Bradley deserve our emails, letters, phone calls, demanding a free market.

2017 will be a fight. That is for sure. We will have out-of-state carpetbaggers from Colorado who grew as companies under a Colorado protected market now marching into Florida. The Five, now six licensed growers, will drop thousands into Bradley’s PAC hoping we will not notice the financial influence.

Advocates, we need to keep on top of this situation, email [or call] our representatives, and demand a free market system, which allows females owners, minority interests to enter as entrepreneurs, mom and pop entrepreneurs, and a program that rests on democratic ideals of freedom and a level playing field.

Those who are advocates of cannabis and want to ensure that Amendment 2 is implemented as it was written by its authors, should contact their Representative and Senator in their district, which could potentially affect the outcome of the spring session, which started on Tuesday, March 7th, and concludes in May.

Call or visit your Representative in person, and communicate with them what you want and do not want in the implementation of Amendment 2. It’s recommended that you do this once a week, if necessary, to keep on top of them. Be concise, keep it brief, and respectful.

You can find your representative’s contact information by following this link at GovTrack. On the GovTrack website, click on ‘Representative’ and input your zip code to find your Representative in the district where you live.

For those who would like to get in touch with their elected officials via phone, text your zip code to (520) 200 2223. You will receive a text back of your Federal and State Senators’ and Representatives’ names and phone numbers instantly.

Let your lawmakers know how you feel about the issues that matter. YOU have the ability to create change.

You can find more articles from Bill Monroe at Florida for Medical Marijuana.

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Finally Realizing the Dream of Legalized Medical Cannabis in Florida http://naturalrevolution.org/finally-realizing-dream-legalized-medical-cannabis-florida/ http://naturalrevolution.org/finally-realizing-dream-legalized-medical-cannabis-florida/#respond Sun, 19 Feb 2017 18:09:44 +0000 http://naturalrevolution.org/?p=223551 Those of us who are either new, or long-time vigilant advocates of supporting legal medical cannabis with Amendment 2 (A2), it was a long time coming that it finally passed, and now that medical cannabis is now a constitutional law in Florida, those who sought to help those who were sick or in pain, can ...

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Finally Realizing the Dream of Legalized Medical Cannabis in Florida

Those of us who are either new, or long-time vigilant advocates of supporting legal medical cannabis with Amendment 2 (A2), it was a long time coming that it finally passed, and now that medical cannabis is now a constitutional law in Florida, those who sought to help those who were sick or in pain, can now find comfort knowing that 6.5 million Floridians voted to help ease their suffering.

We finally won this long battle to bring medical cannabis to Florida for patients who will now have the opportunity to be treated with something natural, God-given, and is NOT a synthetic, and potentially, deadly prescription drug.

There are currently over 400,000 seriously ill people in Florida that will now have the legal right to consume medical cannabis. A person who is suffering with a debilitating disease or is in pain in the state can no longer be denied medical cannabis from their doctor for any reason as soon as Amendment 2 goes into effect in 2017.

If you voted Yes for A2, let me personally take this opportunity to say THANK YOU! If it wasn’t for you that voted Yes, millions of Floridians would not have the chance from legal medical cannabis to relieve their pain and suffering. You made a BIG difference in the lives of potentially millions of people. How amazing is that?!

To every single person in this group who supported us and our goals to see that A2 passed, with an overwhelming 72% of the vote (Yes, amazing!) by spreading the word and getting out there among the millions and beyond, THANK YOU!

So congratulations and thank YOU for championing the cause and ‘Fighting The Good Fight For Cannabis’.

Let me also add, that by voting Yes on A2, you were instrumental in helping reduce the number of certain drug cartels in our state, cities and in our communities. When there’s a safer competitive market, the black market always diminishes. So when there are less drug dealers on the street, it profoundly contributes to the benefit of communities everywhere and, there is one less avenue for kids to get drugs, which will help keep those children out of harm’s way.

Just like with alcohol, the black market with prohibition is what created incredible violence, gangs and a myriad of problems for cities. When prohibition ended, they finally saw a dramatic decrease in guns on the street and people getting killed by alcohol-pushing criminals.
Now, like in almost every state in the US, when there is a much safer market for cannabis, through legal dispensaries, it keeps caregivers, and patients safe and helps lessen the activity of drug dealers on the street, and online.

A2 will also have regulatory guidelines that are setup to ensure strict safety protocols to see that there are NOT dangerous additives mixed in with cannabis, like harmful drugs, pesticides, and other toxic substances.

The legalization of medical cannabis is also providing for our courageous police officers the ability to not have to be bothered by petty crimes like people smoking small amounts of cannabis, and then having to cite, fill out long reports or arrests the thousands of people who are using cannabis each year. That not only saves their department an immeasurable amount of money and time each year, but it also enables police officers to allocate more time to focus on keeping violent criminals off the streets who are a profound scourge to our society.

Lastly, the amount of tourism and tens of millions of dollars that will be generated with the many new cannabis industries to our cities and state, there’s no question that government and city employees will potentially see not only an increase in their wages, but those millions of dollars will be directed towards increased budgets for departmental programs which will help our cities thrive with new amenities, that will not only improve our city, but improve the quality of life of every single person who lives in Florida.

So again, thanks to every single person who helped get The Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative, also known as Amendment 2, passed; we couldn’t have done it without you!

Greatly appreciative,

Steven Peters

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Outcry From Cannabis Supporters Jampack Public Hearing on Amendment 2 http://naturalrevolution.org/outcry-cannabis-supporters-jampack-public-hearing-amendment-2/ http://naturalrevolution.org/outcry-cannabis-supporters-jampack-public-hearing-amendment-2/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2017 01:10:14 +0000 http://naturalrevolution.org/?p=223515 An overwhelming 71.3 percent of the vote in Florida passed the medical cannabis Amendment 2 bill which would allow physicians the discretion to recommend medical marijuana in any instance where they believe that its medical use “would likely outweigh the potential health risks” for their patients. However, the proposed new rules the Florida Department of Health ...

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An overwhelming 71.3 percent of the vote in Florida passed the medical cannabis Amendment 2 bill which would allow physicians the discretion to recommend medical marijuana in any instance where they believe that its medical use “would likely outweigh the potential health risks” for their patients.

However, the proposed new rules the Florida Department of Health (DOH) seek to change would not permit physicians to recommend cannabis therapy to patients with chronic pain, and also would limit patients to one of only ten limited qualifying conditions.

The new DOH draft rules also seek to significantly minimize the number of licensed medical cannabis cultivators and providers, and are also considering limiting patients from legally accessing herbal forms of the product, instead requiring those in the program to consume cannabis-infused liquids or extracts.

So in other words, the whole plant in its natural form would be prohibited from sale.

Because of the new proposed rules by the DOH, there’s been a justifiable frenzy in the cannabis community, and they showed up in large numbers, an estimated 600 attendees, to speak their minds about these questionable new rules.

At the Department of Health in Fort Lauderdale, the meeting room at capacity, the crowd overflowed into an adjacent room outside of the meeting’s chamber, which filled up quickly into the front lobby for a public hearing about medical cannabis and the implementation of Amendment 2. One of the attendees stated:

“My condition doesn’t fall under amendment 2,” said a medical marijuana patient at the hearing. “I’m not a criminal, I’m a father of three. My wife is a teacher. I deserve the right to access proper medication at a proper price.”

Many are concerned about limited access to the medication. As it stands, there are only seven licensed dispensaries in the state. Another stated:

“Patients need and deserve access to this plant,” said a medical caretaker at the hearing. “They need a variety of strains of this plant and not just one. They need access that is affordable which, when you look at the vertical system, the costs are through the roof. I’m talking to patients who are being told $2500 to $5000 to treat their cancer.”

Daniel Oates, former Colorado police chief and current Miami Beach police chief, spoke for his city and chiefs across the state.

“We all want local control of how medical marijuana treatment centers and dispensaries operate,” said Oates. “It’s very important to law enforcement that 24 hours a day we know who is in lawful possession of marijuana.”

The superintendent of schools in Miami-Dade County is compassionate for the patients in need, but he’s asking for clear regulations.

“We’re looking for three things,” said Alberto Carvalho, Miami-Dade School Superintendent. “First, safe distance between dispensaries and schools no fewer than 2500 feet. Absolute prohibition in terms of packaging as candy and soft drinks that can send wrong message to kids. And third, let us have latitude of having regulations specific in the dispensaries of these products in the workplace to children as prescribed medication.”

For more information about other public hearings on the implementation of medical cannabis in other cities in Florida, visit this link.

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U.S. Has Funded Israeli Cannabis Research For 50 Years http://naturalrevolution.org/u-s-funded-israeli-cannabis-research-50-years/ http://naturalrevolution.org/u-s-funded-israeli-cannabis-research-50-years/#respond Sat, 04 Feb 2017 21:42:59 +0000 http://naturalrevolution.org/?p=223483 The U.S. government has been funding medical cannabis research for the past five decades. Only, they’ve been outsourcing that research to another country. For half of a century, the National Institute of Health has provided an annual grant to Israel for research on the herb. You may have heard of Dr. Raphael Mechoulam. Dr. Mechoulam is ...

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U.S. Has Funded Israeli Cannabis Research For 50 Years

The U.S. government has been funding medical cannabis research for the past five decades. Only, they’ve been outsourcing that research to another country. For half of a century, the National Institute of Health has provided an annual grant to Israel for research on the herb.

You may have heard of Dr. Raphael Mechoulam. Dr. Mechoulam is the man who first discovered THC.

Back in the early 1960s, Mechoulam asked the U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH) for funding on his cannabis research. Unfortunately, true to form, they turned him down.

However, according to a Newsweek report,  one year after Mechoulam’s first inquiry, he got a call from the NIH. Apparently, after an unnamed U.S. Senator caught his son smoking a little cannabis, the senator called the NIH to find out what the herb actually did to the brain. No one had the answer.

So, the same official that once rejected Mechoulam’s research called him with some good news. The NIH would grant $100,000 to Mechoulam’s team each year for further study on the health effects of cannabis.

This funding has continued for over 50 years. This is amazing, as it is really tough to get an NIH overseas grant.

A half-century’s worth of medical discovery

In that time, Mechoulam and his team have unearthed a wealth of medical potential in the cannabis plant. This includes findings that suggest that:

The few findings mentioned here are only the very beginning of what Mechoulam and associated teams have discovered. The research conducted in Israel since the 1960s has lent itself to cannabis reform time and time again.

Without Mechoulam’s contributions, we may not have the medical cannabis programs that we have today. In his own country, Mechoulam has won several major awards and honors for his work.

In his own country, Mechoulam has won many prestigious awards and honors for his work. Now, Israel’s medical cannabis industry is booming. There, patients can access medical cannabis for cancer, chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, pediatric epilepsy, arthritis, and Crohn’s disease.

Though $100,000 can go quickly in scientific research, the federal government’s generosity helped fund these incredible discoveries.

So, after all of that funding, why is cannabis still seen as having “no medical value” by the DEA and other governmental agencies?

In 2013, the NIH released even a study that described that the endocannabinoid system plays a role in “essentially every human disease”. The U.S. government currently holds a patent on cannabinoids as a neuroprotective antioxidant, which is helpful in Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Alan Shackelford, a Harvard-trained, medical cannabis prescribing doctor in Colorado, explained that the U.S. doctors had no trouble prescribing the herb prior to the Reefer Madness era. He tells Newsweek,

Marijuana was an integral part of American medicine for more than 100 years, from the 1830s through the 1940s, and it was used safely and effectively for all of that time. – Shackelford

So, what’s with all of the hypocrisy? Recently, large pharmaceutical companies have made substantial donations to anti-legalization campaigns. At the same time, other companies have received special permission to test cannabis-based pharmaceuticals in U.S. patients.

Yet, everyday doctors who wish to prescribe the herb cannot since the herb has Schedule 1 status.

All but a select few independent and pharmaceutical researchers are blocked from experimenting with cannabis on U.S. soil. Though the federal government has respected state rights thus far, patients, recommending doctors, and cannabis businesses are still shunned to remain in a gray area of the law.

More than half of U.S. states have implemented some form of cannabis reform.

Why do you think cannabis remains illegal in the U.S.? Share this article, and your thought in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!

This article first appeared on Herb.co website.

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Florida DOH Seek to Illegally Change Amendment 2 Medical Cannabis Rule http://naturalrevolution.org/florida-doh-seek-to-illegally-change-amendment-2-medical-cannabis-rule/ http://naturalrevolution.org/florida-doh-seek-to-illegally-change-amendment-2-medical-cannabis-rule/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2017 20:41:39 +0000 http://naturalrevolution.org/?p=223455 An overwhelming 71.3 percent of the vote in Florida passed the medical cannabis Amendment 2 bill which would allow physicians the discretion to recommend medical marijuana in any instance where they believe that its medical use “would likely outweigh the potential health risks” for their patients. However, the new rules the Florida Department of Health (DOH) ...

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An overwhelming 71.3 percent of the vote in Florida passed the medical cannabis Amendment 2 bill which would allow physicians the discretion to recommend medical marijuana in any instance where they believe that its medical use “would likely outweigh the potential health risks” for their patients.

However, the new rules the Florida Department of Health (DOH) seek to change would not permit physicians to recommend cannabis therapy to patients with chronic pain, and also would limit patients to one of only ten limited qualifying conditions.

The new DOH draft rules also seek to significantly minimize the number of licensed medical cannabis cultivators and providers, and are also considering limiting patients from legally accessing herbal forms of the product, instead requiring those in the program to consume cannabis-infused liquids or extracts.

So in other words, the whole plant in its natural form would be prohibited from sale.

“We know the legislature is really on board. They take notice of a 71.3 percentage vote by the population and they have assured us they are listening to the voters,” attorney Gerry Greenspoon said.

The first line on the medical cannabis information page is in direct contradiction to Amendment 2 when it says patients must have a 3-month relationship with their recommending doctor.

Also in conflict with the amendment’s intent is that physicians have to go through required training, an 8-hour class.

“When a doctor’s in his office and a salesman comes in with the little cart with new medications, the doctor doesn’t have to take a course on new medication,” said Karen Goldstein, executive director of NORML.

NORML, an organization fighting to sway public opinion about marijuana use, takes exception with language that would limit the growing, manufacturing and dispensing to just six licensees. They say it creates a monopoly on what should be a free and open market, and it’s logistically impossible.

“The number of patients will exceed what these six growers can provide and it’s not in the intent of the amendment,” Goldstein said.

In the coming weeks, regulators will be holding a number of public forums throughout the state to seek feedback to these proposed rules. Please seriously consider attending one of these events to tell regulators that these changes are not in the best interest of Florida patients.

Attend a Medical marijuana Public Hearing; grab your friends, your family, a stranger, or anyone else to come and support your efforts:

  • JACKSONVILLE: February 6, 2017, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    Duval County Health Department
    900 University Blvd. North
    Jacksonville, FL 32211
  • FORT LAUDERDALE: February 7, 2017, 10:00 a.m. – noon
    Broward County Health Department
    780 SW 24th Street
    Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
  • TAMPA: February 8, 2017, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
    Florida Department of Health, Tampa Branch Laboratory
    3602 Spectrum Blvd.
    Tampa, FL 33612
  • ORLANDO: February 8, 2017, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
    Orange County Health Department
    6102 Lake Ellenor Drive
    Orlando, FL 32809
  • TALLAHASSEE: February 9, 2017, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
    Betty Easley Conference Center
    4075 Esplanade Way, Room 148
    Tallahassee, Florida 32399

Equally as important, the DOH launched a public input portal so you – the people of Florida – may share your thoughts about how you’d like to see medical marijuana administered.

One item of particular patient concern from the proposed rules follows:

(e) “Qualifying debilitating medical condition” shall mean conditions eligible for physician ordering contained in s. 381.986(2), F.S., or cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis. Also, any debilitating medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to those enumerated, as determined by the Florida Board of Medicine.

You read that correctly. The state is suggesting it would like to restrict one of the most important aspects of the law to specific determinations made by the Board of Medicine.

This is clearly not within the intent of the authors of the Constitutional Amendment:

“Qualifying Debilitating Medical Conditions includes the listed specific debilitating conditions, but also includes any comparable debilitating conditions for which the physician believes the potential benefit outweighs the known risk. An individual physician makes the determination if a condition is comparable to those listed in the text of the amendment. Individuals without a debilitating condition would not qualify to receive medical marijuana under this Amendment.”

Physicians, not politicians, should be determining who has a debilitating condition for which cannabis can better the quality of life of their patients.

As you know, we strongly believe in patient care, education, and advocacy. Now is time for all three! Here’s what you can do to get involved and help this mission:

Join Our Florida Cannabis Warriors Facebook Group

  • We created a Facebook group for people interested in discussing medical cannabis access in Florida. Right now we are discussing the upcoming Board of Health hearings. If you would like to join this group, please visit the Facebook page to join.  

Leave Your Comments with the State

  • Those who cannot attend in person, we highly encourage you to leave feedback with the Department of Health at the link below, and let them know the proposed changes unduly limiting the pool of eligible patients and their access to medical cannabis and these proposed new rules are not in the best interest of seriously ill Floridians who may benefit from medical cannabis.Go to the Office of Compassionate Use (OCU) Public Comment Form and tell the state:
  • To allow qualified physicians make final eligibility decisions.
  • To ensure licensing of patients be easy, quick, and inexpensive.
  • To allow for available access to the medication. Medical Cannabis Treatment Centers (MCTC), cultivators, processors, and dispensaries must have an efficient licensing system. Taxes on the medication should not exceed Colorado’s standard of 10%. Flower (bud and vegetation) should be able to be sold as it is the most inexpensive form. Edibles should be allowed with proper child safe packaging such as pill bottles or blister packs. Limitations shouldn’t be placed on access – dispensaries should be able to provide for home delivery of medication, cities should allow for dispensaries to open in their communities.

Share The Information

  • The more people know about this issue, the better chance we have to ensure that the will of the people of Florida will be met. So please, share this article with your friends and family on social media and in person.

Know What’s Going On In Your Area

  • Keep an eye out for developments in medical marijuana both in Florida and elsewhere. news.google.com is a great resource.

The More You Know, More People You Can Help

  • Educate yourself and others on the benefits of cannabis and its derivatives in relation to chronic conditions.

If you are able to attend a hearing, please do. Empty public meetings usually result in ridiculous regulation. 71.3% of Florida voters said “Yes” to Amendment 2, and the government needs to realize there is a very real public mandate to allow for people suffering to receive access to medication that may actually work to ease their pain and suffering.

Now is the time to let our voices be heard. Please join our fight for medical cannabis patient rights in Florida!

 

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