Florida Will Vote to Legalise Medical Cannabis in the Coming Months

After an intense debate, a US Senate committee has backed the draft bill that would allow patients in Florida with terminal illnesses to have access to medical cannabis. At the moment, it is known that the measure would allow three organisations to obtain licenses to grow, process and distribute cannabis strains that do not cause euphoria to a minimum of 250,000 patients (estimated by doctors).

It would be a great step forward, especially after a similar proposal was also debated in 2014 that was aimed at getting doctors to prescribe cannabis products with a low level of THC. After meetings, votes and different legal battles over two years, the state authorities have still not reached an agreement on this question, therefore patients are still not receiving the cannabis that they need.

Rob Bradley, one of the key driving forces behind the proposal, declared that quite a while ago many families were told that the medicine needed for their sick family members would soon be in their hands, “and here we are two years later, we have not fulfilled that promise". Meanwhile, those that oppose the decision believe that this type of medicines should not be prescribed to some patients, especially minors.

At the moment nothing has been decided. The constitutional amendment will be voted on in November under the title “The use of cannabis for crippling illnesses”. Apart from time, everything seems to be on the side of change. According to a survey published recently by Public Policy Polling, 65% of voters in the state approve allowing authorised medical use and distribution of cannabis for medical purposes. Only 28% would oppose the measure.

According to the laws in Florida, it is necessary to obtain support from 60% of voters in favour of the amendment for it to become law. The state’s insistence on taking a decision that relieves the suffering of its citizens will mean that, very possibly, cannabis will soon reach them in their homes.