Appeals put 'Charlotte's Web' medical marijuana program on hold
<TIME class=trb_article_dateline_time datetime="2014-09-17T17:27:00EDT" data-datetime-timezone="EDT" data-datetime-monthshort="Sep." data-datetime-day="17" data-datetime-year="2014" data-datetime-weekday="Wednesday" data-datetime-weekdayshort="Wed." data-datetime-fullclock="5:27:00 PM" data-datetime-hour="5 PM" data-datetime-daydiff="-1 days left" data-datetime-month="September" data-datetime-today="" data-datetime-clock="5:27 PM"></TIME>
</HEADER><SECTION class=trb_mainContent data-role="panelmod_articleBody"> Final development of Florida's legalized non-euphoric medical marijuana program is on hold for up to 60 days because several potential growers are furious over the state's proposed rules and filed challenges.
Earlier this month, the Department of Health issued its final proposed rules on who could qualify for five state licenses to grow, process and sell so-called "Charlotte's Web" marijuana products to treat Florida patients with epilepsy, other neurological disorders and cancer.
<ASIDE class=trb_panelmod_container data-role="panelmod_container imgsize_ratiosizecontainer" data-load-type="noop" data-panelmod-type="relatedContent"> <IFRAME id=google_ads_iframe_/4011/trb.orlandosentinel/health_3__hidden__ style="BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; VISIBILITY: hidden; border-image: none" height=0 marginHeight=0 src="javascript:"<html><body style='background:transparent'></body></html>"" frameBorder=0 width=0 name=google_ads_iframe_/4011/trb.orlandosentinel/health_3__hidden__ marginWidth=0 scrolling=no></IFRAME>
But several plant nurseries and other businesses objected, saying the rules do little to determine which applicants are best suited, and turns the ultimate selection into a lottery.
Costa Farms of Miami and Plants of Ruskin of Ruskin filed legal challenges late Monday with the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings. The Florida Medical Cannabis Association of Winter Park filed a third challenge Wednesday.
<ASIDE class=trb_panelmod_container data-role="panelmod_container" data-panelmod-type="comments"> cComments
<IFRAME id=google_ads_iframe_/4011/trb.orlandosentinel/health_4__hidden__ style="BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; VISIBILITY: hidden; border-image: none" height=0 marginHeight=0 src="javascript:"<html><body style='background:transparent'></body></html>"" frameBorder=0 width=0 name=google_ads_iframe_/4011/trb.orlandosentinel/health_4__hidden__ marginWidth=0 scrolling=no></IFRAME> As a result, the state cannot enact the rules and start seeking license applications until the administrative judge makes a ruling, and that could take up to 60 days. The department expected to enact the rules Sept. 30, and cannabis product sales were to start as early as Jan. 1.
The program was authorized by a law passed last spring by the Florida Legislature. It is not associated with a much broader medical marijuana proposal that voters will consider on the Nov. 4 ballot, Amendment 2. However many prospective medical marijuana businesses are concerned these rules would set the stage for rules for the potentially more-profitable medical marijuana program expected if Amendment 2 is adopted.
<IFRAME id=google_ads_iframe_/4011/trb.orlandosentinel/health_5__hidden__ style="BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; VISIBILITY: hidden; border-image: none" height=0 marginHeight=0 src="javascript:"<html><body style='background:transparent'></body></html>"" frameBorder=0 width=0 name=google_ads_iframe_/4011/trb.orlandosentinel/health_5__hidden__ marginWidth=0 scrolling=no></IFRAME>
"We took this action very reluctantly. We are very aware of the need to provide this medicine as quickly as possible," said Louis Rotondo of the Florida Medical Cannabis Association.
The Department of Health released a statement from Florida Surgeon General John Armstrong calling the rule challenge "regrettable" and promising the state would administer the program as soon as possible.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/health/os-charlottes-web-program-suspended-20140917-story.html
<TIME class=trb_article_dateline_time datetime="2014-09-17T17:27:00EDT" data-datetime-timezone="EDT" data-datetime-monthshort="Sep." data-datetime-day="17" data-datetime-year="2014" data-datetime-weekday="Wednesday" data-datetime-weekdayshort="Wed." data-datetime-fullclock="5:27:00 PM" data-datetime-hour="5 PM" data-datetime-daydiff="-1 days left" data-datetime-month="September" data-datetime-today="" data-datetime-clock="5:27 PM"></TIME>
</HEADER><SECTION class=trb_mainContent data-role="panelmod_articleBody"> Final development of Florida's legalized non-euphoric medical marijuana program is on hold for up to 60 days because several potential growers are furious over the state's proposed rules and filed challenges.
Earlier this month, the Department of Health issued its final proposed rules on who could qualify for five state licenses to grow, process and sell so-called "Charlotte's Web" marijuana products to treat Florida patients with epilepsy, other neurological disorders and cancer.
<ASIDE class=trb_panelmod_container data-role="panelmod_container imgsize_ratiosizecontainer" data-load-type="noop" data-panelmod-type="relatedContent"> <IFRAME id=google_ads_iframe_/4011/trb.orlandosentinel/health_3__hidden__ style="BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; VISIBILITY: hidden; border-image: none" height=0 marginHeight=0 src="javascript:"<html><body style='background:transparent'></body></html>"" frameBorder=0 width=0 name=google_ads_iframe_/4011/trb.orlandosentinel/health_3__hidden__ marginWidth=0 scrolling=no></IFRAME>
But several plant nurseries and other businesses objected, saying the rules do little to determine which applicants are best suited, and turns the ultimate selection into a lottery.
Costa Farms of Miami and Plants of Ruskin of Ruskin filed legal challenges late Monday with the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings. The Florida Medical Cannabis Association of Winter Park filed a third challenge Wednesday.
<ASIDE class=trb_panelmod_container data-role="panelmod_container" data-panelmod-type="comments"> cComments
- Why can't cancer patients have a little euphoria? Why would anyone buy this government garbage when they can get the real thing in a different state, or from a kid on the corner. What a country of Puritanical heartless blobs.
Timae Bellend Solis
at 9:03 PM September 17, 2014
<IFRAME id=google_ads_iframe_/4011/trb.orlandosentinel/health_4__hidden__ style="BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; VISIBILITY: hidden; border-image: none" height=0 marginHeight=0 src="javascript:"<html><body style='background:transparent'></body></html>"" frameBorder=0 width=0 name=google_ads_iframe_/4011/trb.orlandosentinel/health_4__hidden__ marginWidth=0 scrolling=no></IFRAME> As a result, the state cannot enact the rules and start seeking license applications until the administrative judge makes a ruling, and that could take up to 60 days. The department expected to enact the rules Sept. 30, and cannabis product sales were to start as early as Jan. 1.
The program was authorized by a law passed last spring by the Florida Legislature. It is not associated with a much broader medical marijuana proposal that voters will consider on the Nov. 4 ballot, Amendment 2. However many prospective medical marijuana businesses are concerned these rules would set the stage for rules for the potentially more-profitable medical marijuana program expected if Amendment 2 is adopted.
<IFRAME id=google_ads_iframe_/4011/trb.orlandosentinel/health_5__hidden__ style="BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; VISIBILITY: hidden; border-image: none" height=0 marginHeight=0 src="javascript:"<html><body style='background:transparent'></body></html>"" frameBorder=0 width=0 name=google_ads_iframe_/4011/trb.orlandosentinel/health_5__hidden__ marginWidth=0 scrolling=no></IFRAME>
"We took this action very reluctantly. We are very aware of the need to provide this medicine as quickly as possible," said Louis Rotondo of the Florida Medical Cannabis Association.
The Department of Health released a statement from Florida Surgeon General John Armstrong calling the rule challenge "regrettable" and promising the state would administer the program as soon as possible.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/health/os-charlottes-web-program-suspended-20140917-story.html
