Welcome to

Capitol News Service

Florida's Best Political Coverage on Television

Quote of the Day

e. e. cummings
"I imagine that yes is the only living thing."
Daniel Webster
"How little do they see what really is, who frame their hasty judgment upon that which seems."
Vladimir Horowitz
"Perfection itself is imperfection."
Elbert Hubbard
"He has achieved success who has worked well, laughed often, and loved much."

Delayed Medical Marijuana Licenses Getting Political Push

January 8th, 2015 by Mike Vasilinda

The Department of Health missed a January first deadline to license five medical marijuana growers. The delay is frustrating both families and lawmakers.

Last May, State Senator Rob Bradley smiled and posed for pictures with the families of epileptic children. Bradley had just gotten the Senate to approve low thc marijuana.

“30 yeas, 9 nays, Mr. President. And so the bill passes.”

Growers Licenses were supposed to have been issued January first. They weren’t.

Bradley told us via phone today that “I am frustrated that the January 1st deadline passed.”

Through three public hearings, parents with sick children were adamant.

Holly Mosley, with daughter RayAnn has been leading the fight for low thc marijuana in Florida. She appeared at all three public meetings in Tallahassee with almost identical messages I”m hear as a mother today who daily struggles with a child with epilepsy.”

The biggest reason for the delay is the Department of Health insisted on using a lottery to award licenses when every stakeholder told them for months they couldn’t do it. An Administrative law judge said no to the lottery of licenses in December. Jeff Sharkey, founder of the Medical Marijuana Business Association says the ruling should have been expected “A lot of stakeholders said that’s not the best way to pick someone who is supposed to be growing and dispensing a pharmaceutical product. It should be the luckiest, it should be the most capable.”

Political Frustration over the delay is growing. State Representative Matt Gaetz sponsored the legislation in the House. “One of my own constituents was texting me images of his little girl, having to go to the emergency room for the second time in a week unable to control her seizures, so I am committed.”

Now DOH hopes to negotiate a new rule with potential license holders in early February…but even if they succeed, it will still be months before sick children and their families see the relief they so desperately need.

The Department of Health has scheduled a two day meeting with potential growers on February 4th and 5th.