Policy Analysis DRAFT 2

Medical Marijuana in Florida

Irving Toruno

Florida International University

POS 4784

04/01/2021

Medical Marijuana: 2

Medical Marijuana in Florida

The Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative also known as Amendment 2 first

appeared in 2014 ballot but due to limited support it ended up being defeated this is because the

law only applied to those who were terminally ill and with at least a year to live. It later on

reappeared on Tuesday November 18th, 2016 ballot and over 60% of the members voted it in as an

initiated constitutional amendment and was approved (Maxwell, 2019). The amendment went into

effect in January 3, 2017 The policy was mainly enacted to help the medical marijuana be used on

patients only when the physician believed that it would be useful to outweigh the potential health

risks for the patients.

The Florida Department of Health Agency’s spokeswoman stated that the agency was

willing to follow the voters’ will once the constitutional amendment went into effect. By June

2017, the members of the Florida House and State had approved legislation to implement the

amendment and thus the law became effective. This was completed by June 24, 2017. However,

the law faced some criticism after its implementation (Blitchok, 2019). Members thought that the

law making department was favoring just a few dispensaries that had ties to Florida legislators.

Critics assert that the department are targeting to create some barriers into the market to the less

fortunate and only focus on the wealthy white males politically connected.

History

The compassionate Use Act was legal medical cannabis program in the history of the

United States. It was the first legal marijuana program within the state that had succeeded in

passing it. This makes 2014 to be a historic year for the state as other states seemed to be

Medical Marijuana: 3

reluctant to pass the legislation. The original compassionate Use Act had provided allowance for

the low level THC cannabis to be given to patients that suffered from epilepsy and cancer

(Powers, 2015). The turning point came in 2016 whereby the legislature of the state passed the

law about the Right To Try which offered allowance for the full set of competency cannabis to

be perfectly dispensed to patient that patients that suffered from diagnosed forms of terminal

conditions. The year foresaw the introduction Florida marijuana legalization as the

compassionate use act became a law in 23rd June 2017.

Various factors led to the implementation of the law that cannot be avoided. A look at the

revenue stream that came from marijuana makes up one of the reasons as to why the drug was

legalized in the country. This is based on the complicated framework that came with the illegal

purchase. The revenue streams amounted to millions making the state to be interested. The social

factors positively contributed to the introduction of the law (Ostrowski, 2018). Majority of the

people within the society had embraced its use and taken the initiative of using it for medical

purposes. The aspect led to increase political support from the leaders that saw it as an

opportunity and a necessity to serve the health and social needs of the community by ensuring

that cannabis was legalized in the state through relevant legislations.

Physical Factors

The right to medical marijuana was influenced by various physical factors that are

important to analyzed and understands in a reflective way. The landscape of the region seemed to

be ideal for the commercial growth of the marijuana. It was a factor that people seemed to utilize

in the region to grow the cannabis illegally. The state saw the opportunity in terms of revenue

stream based on the favorable soil that favored the farming within the region (Powers, 2015).

The aspect made the plant to be legalized so that its farming could be legalized and the residents

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and state would earn a living from such initiatives. It was a broad move that triggered positive

changes within the state in terms of marijuana use. The factor positively influenced the

development of the policy that positively worked out for the residents.

Social Factors

The social factors that led to the legalization of the cannabis is a factor that needs to be

positively interpreted. The practice is focused on the creation of better outcomes that is a clear

matter of concern that needs to be reflected upon. The legalization of the practice is focused on

positive issues that are highlighted in terms societal use. The people that stand to benefit from

the legalization come from the sick people (Dixon, 2017). The practice comes in place when it

comes in terms of efficiency as the youth and middle aged are the ones that stands to benefit in

terms of progress. The practice led to the implementation of positive ideals that led to better

measures that served the interest of the people in a manner that is clearly effectual and essential

when it comes to practice and implementation.

The people that would suffer from the implementation are the people that have a different

opinion about the use of marijuana. It is a practice that needs to be understood as some of the

elderly people hold moral ideals that are against the practice. They believe that the practice

seems to have negative implications to the society in terms of implementation and other relevant

ideals in place (Ostrowski, 2018). It is an essential issue of concern that needs to be perfectly

reflected in a way that is ideal and reflective and essential which is clearly important and ideal.

The practice needs to be perfectly reflected in a way that is ideal and relevant because control

measures need to be put in place to change the overall opinion that people may have in relation

to the matter based on the issue.

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Economic Factors

A look at economic factors surrounding the practice is highly important and essential to

understand the reason behind the introduction of the policy in the country. The commercial

availability of marijuana seems to the key point of focus that seems to have a positive reflection

on the community (Arnold, 2018). A look at the impact that the legalization has on the tax

revenue is a positive issue of concern as it has positive results. The state has the potential to

collect of $200 million in fees and taxes based on the medical marijuana (Dixon, 2017). The

overall sales of the marijuana come to $2 billion and the number is expected to increase in the

country. It is a factor that positively affects the country in terms of growth and other essential

issues. The factor makes its legalization a perfect socio-economic choice for the state.

Looking at the policy in a socio-economic perspective reveals that the practice lead to the

generation of jobs and income for the country. The setting up of cannabis dispensaries and

nurseries makes up the factor that the legislature passed the policy. The practice leads to the

generation of income that would later on be taxed and the creation of job that would positively

work in favor of the country. The generation of over 40,000 jobs is an aspect that is associated

with the move making it a highly recommended practice for the country (Kennedy, 2016). The

economic implication within the state is a key factor that makes its legalization important. On the

other hand, it is an investment opportunity that positively works for the interest of the state

(Ostrowski, 2019). The factor attracts investors that makes it more profession and serves the

economic demands in a perfect way.

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Political Factors

The political framework that came from the practice is a key matter of concern that needs

to be positively reflected upon. The political players make up the legislations that is important

based on the reflective points that needs to be reflected upon. The general assembly plays an

important part in the implementation of the process in a way that is essential and reflected on a

way that is effectual, essential, and important in a way that positively works out (Kennedy,

2016). The hose of delegates and state assembly have an important stake as they vote on whether

the policy needs to be positively reflected upon in a way that is reflective on the points that are

essential to come up in a positive way that is essential to reflect upon in a way that is essential.

Religious groups seemed to offer different opinions in relation to the matter. The focus is

the creation of opinions in relation to its legalization. The consent that came from them is based

on the religious teachings that are important to reflect on in a way that is permanently essential

and reflected in a positive way. The support that comes from civil rights movement is a clear

point that needs to be positively emulated based on the message that comes from the process.

The aspect is reflected on the positive ideals that come in terms of service implementation and

other essential issues in place (Powers, 2015). Ideally, their support played an important part in

giving a voice to the users and the individuals that opposed the measure in a way that is clearly

reflected upon.

Conclusion

In summary, the compassionate Use Act was legal medical cannabis program in the

history of the United States. It was the first legal marijuana program within the state that had

succeeded in passing it. Various factors led to the implementation of the law that cannot be

Medical Marijuana: 7

avoided. A look at the revenue stream that came from marijuana makes up one of the reasons as

to why the drug was legalized in the country. A look at economic factors surrounding the

practice is highly important and essential to understand the reason behind the introduction of the

policy in the country. The commercial availability of marijuana seems to the key point of focus

that seems to have a positive reflection on the community. The political framework that came

from the practice is a key matter of concern that needs to be positively reflected upon. The

political players make up the legislations that is important based on the reflective points that

needs to be reflected upon.

References

Powers, S. (2015). Florida's medical-marijuana licenses challenged. TCA Regional News

Kennedy, J. (2016). Florida's first medical marijuana dispensary opens in tallahassee. TCA

Regional News

Dixon, D. (2017). North florida's medical marijuana production facility seeks an increase in

accessibility. TCA Regional News

Ostrowski, J. (2018). Florida's medical marijuana registry hits 100,000. TCA Regional News

Arnold, K. (2018). Florida's medical marijuana industry is hiring, but stoners need not

apply. TCA Regional News

Maxwell, S. (2019). Scott maxwell: After grandma's arrested, jailed at disney for carrying CBD

oil, I look for answers about florida's medical marijuana laws. TCA Regional News

Blitchok, D. (2019). Trulieve: Availability of flower boosted florida's medical marijuana market

in Q2. Benzinga Newswires

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Ostrowski, J. (2019). With florida's medical marijuana market thriving, pot proponents aim for

full legalization. TCA Regional News

Bibliography

Kilmer, Beau, and Robert J. MacCoun. "How medical marijuana smoothed the transition to

marijuana legalization in the United States." Annual Review of Law and Social Science 13

(2017): 181-202.

Santamaria, Nicole. "Medical Marijuana Legislation in Florida: The Recommendation vs.

Prescription Distinction for Healthcare Providers." Stetson L. Rev. 45 (2015): 537.

Smith, Jessica M. "Medical Marijuana: What Florida Health Care Providers and Their Attorne."