Policy Analysis DRAFT 2

Medical Marijuana: 2

Medical Marijuana in Florida

Irving Toruno

Florida International University

POS 4784

04/01/2021

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 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 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.

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.

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 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 

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."