By: Matthew Ginder
The Florida House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed (by a vote of 101-11) the Senate’s bill to repeal the ban on the sale, possession, and use of medical marijuana in smokable form.
The passage of the bill comes just two days before the Governor-imposed deadline for the Florida Legislature to repeal the ban on smoking. Florida’s law currently prohibits physicians from recommending smokable forms of marijuana to patients. Once the bill is signed into law by the Governor, qualifying physicians will now be able to issue a physician certification for marijuana in a form for smoking to qualified patients who are 18 years of age and older. Patients will be permitted to purchase a 35-day supply of marijuana in a form for smoking, which cannot exceed 2.5 ounces unless an exception applies. The bill also allows qualified patients to purchase and possess a marijuana delivery device intended for the medical use of marijuana by smoking (e.g., bongs) from third party vendors in addition to Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers.
The bill repealing the ban on smoking will take effect immediately after the Governor signs it into law.