TALLAHASSEE (NSF) – Unable to bridge a gap over how many marijuana dispensaries the state should have, Florida lawmakers Friday failed to pass legislation that would have created a framework to carry out a constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana for a wide variety of patients.
Implementation of the voter-approved amendment now rests in the hands of state health officials, who have been harshly criticized by legislators, patients, vendors — and judges — for their handling of the state’s current medical marijuana regulations.
A potential deal collapsed Friday evening after the House amended its proposal (HB 1397) to impose a cap of 100 retail outlets for each of the state’s medical marijuana operators, over the objections of some Democrats. The Senate had proposed a cap of 10, at least for now.
“I’m nervous that bouncing this back … will kill this bill and we will be stuck with a situation where the Department of Health has to implement Amendment 2, which can be disastrous for patients,” objected Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando.
House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, the bill’s sponsor, pointed out that lawmakers had hours to go before the session was scheduled to end at midnight.
“If the Senate can’t get this bill heard and decided in the next 3.5 hours, that problem’s with them, not with us,” Rodrigues, R-Estero, said.
The Senate ultimately did not take up the final House proposal.
credit:fox13news.com
