ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — It could soon be a lot easier to get medical marijuana cards in Florida. State Representative Alex Andrade is sponsoring a bill that would make changes to the state’s medical marijuana industry.
The bill was filed last month and would allow anyone who has a marijuana card over the age of 21 to grow the plant at home. It would also change the renewal process for medical marijuana cards.
When Amendment 3 was on the ballot during last year’s election, a majority of the Floridians voted in favor of recreational marijuana.
But many did not like the fact that you couldn’t grow it at your home. Andrade says this bill, if passed, would change that.
Flowers, bushes, vegetables and a palm tree here and there are commonly found in gardens across Florida. Now, marijuana plants could be added to that list.
Andrade’s bill promises to expand Florida’s growing medical marijuana industry.
“It works to improve our medical marijuana in the state,” said Andrade. “It expands opportunities for Florida residents and for people in Florida to participate in the medical program.”
“The idea of homegrown just makes sense to me,” he said. “People should be allowed to grow these plants in their homes and consume them inside of their homes.”
Andrade’s bill would only allow medical marijuana card holders to grow cannabis at their home. Patients would also be limited to two plants per household.
Crystal Silins is one of the most outspoken advocates for expanding medical marijuana in Florida. Her Krewe de Cannabis aims to shout their message loud and proud.
“We’re not just a local advocacy Mardi Gras krewe,” said Silins. “We work all year round to help influence the community on the benefits of cannabis.”
While she likes Andrade’s bill, she feels the two plant limit to grow at home is not enough.
“Two plants per household is limiting people and patients, depending on what they’re using marijuana for and what they suffer from,” Silins said. “Two plants may not be enough.”
Andrade’s bill doesn’t just allow patients to grow their cannabis at home, it would also allow patients to be given a medical marijuana card through telehealth with a doctor, expand renewal terms to every two years instead of six months and bar marijuana patients from consuming medical marijuana in some public places.
“They don’t want to be smelling it, they don’t want to be walking through clouds of it and I don’t really blame them,” Andrade said.
“You shouldn’t be able to have it come close to looking like any sort of commercial activity. You shouldn’t be able to sell it, you shouldn’t be able to give it to friends or family,” he said. “It’s meant for folks to grow it in the privacy of their own home and consume it in the privacy of their own home.”
The bill has been referred to several state committees, including the Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. If the bill passes committee, it could be moved to the House floor for a vote.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — It could soon be a lot easier to get medical marijuana cards in Florida. State Representative Alex Andrade is sponsoring a bill that wo Read More
