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Editorial: Florida Legislature foolish to ignore medical marijuana

 
The Florida Legislature is making a serious mistake by refusing to take up legislation that would legalize medical marijuana.
The Florida Legislature is making a serious mistake by refusing to take up legislation that would legalize medical marijuana.
Published March 27, 2015

The Florida Legislature is making a serious mistake by refusing to take up legislation that would legalize medical marijuana. Lawmakers are conveniently forgetting a constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana for medical use was nearly approved by voters last year, and their inaction leaves supporters with no recourse but to go back to the ballot next year with a revised amendment. If they keep dodging the issue, it won't be reasonable in 2016 to argue this issue is better addressed in state law written by the Legislature than in a constitutional amendment that will be difficult to adjust later.

Bills introduced by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, and Reps. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, and John Wood, R-Winter Haven, would allow for the broad use of medical marijuana for a range of maladies. Both bills ably address many of the concerns raised by opponents of the 2014 proposed constitutional amendment, including closing the loophole on qualifying conditions and tightening criteria for caregivers. But neither proposal has been scheduled for a committee hearing, a critical step if a bill is to advance to the full Legislature. Lawmakers could still push the issue forward, but that would require courage, common sense and leadership, each of which has been in short supply in this session.

Legislators who think their reluctance to pass responsible medical marijuana legislation will scuttle the drug's legalization are placing bad bets. Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia have legalized some form of medical marijuana or decriminalized its use. Marijuana for medical use will eventually be legal in Florida, if not by legislative statue, then most certainly by constitutional amendment.

Ignoring the issue until next year's legislative session is another potentially disastrous choice. Dismayed by inertia in Tallahassee, medical marijuana proponents are already galvanizing support and collecting voter signatures for another amendment. This time they will likely get the votes they need to place medical marijuana in the state's Constitution. That route robs legislators of the chance to shape medical marijuana rules in a way that best serves Floridians and to make changes to legislation as needed.

The real losers in this standoff are sick Floridians. While legislators dither, people in pain continue to suffer, use traditional medicine that provides little relief or attempt to score marijuana on the street, a dangerous act when the opportunity to offer a legal remedy exists. There is still time for legislators to take action on medical marijuana this spring. But if they fail to move forward, voters' patience will understandably go up in smoke.