Former Prosecutor | Former Insurance Defense Attorney

Click To Call : Free Consultations

Criminal Defense
View Practice Areas

Personal Injury
View Practice Areas

Naples, Florida

Will this be the year Florida legalizes medical marijuana?

On Behalf of | Nov 1, 2016 | Drug Charges

It may seem hard to believe, but in less than one week, people across Florida will head to the polls to cast their vote not just for president, but also for a host of other important political offices and constitutional amendments. Indeed, one ballot measure that both pundits and the populace alike will be eagerly watching is Amendment 2.

On the off chance that you are unfamiliar with Amendment 2 at this late stage, it is a constitutional amendment that, if passed, would enable licensed physicians to write prescriptions for medical marijuana to those patients battling any of the following conditions: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, AIDS, cancer, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder and “similar debilitating conditions.”

In addition to dictating that prescriptions cannot be written for minors absent parental consent, Amendment 2 authorizes establishes firm limits for the number of patients caregivers are allowed to treat.

As for the chances that Amendment 2 will garner the 60 percent of the vote needed to pass, polls have shown that that anywhere from 73 to 77 percent of voters have expressed support for the measure. If it does pass, it may not come as too big of a surprise given that a similar measure introduced in 2014 was able to secure a whopping 58 percent of the vote.

Despite the widespread support for the Sunshine State officially joining the ranks of the other 25 states that have legalized medical marijuana, the measure has also attracted its fair share of detractors, including the Florida Medical Association and the Florida Police Chiefs Association.

If Amendment 2 does pass next week, it’s important for people to remember that it does not give them immediate carte blanche to purchase or possess marijuana. Indeed, it will likely take some time for regulations to be put in place by the legislature and the health department.

In other words, understand that even if you are suffering from one of the qualifying medical conditions, you can still be arrested for violating the state’s drug possession laws absent a valid prescription and that these laws call for serious penalties.

Stay tuned for updates …

If you are under investigation or have been arrested for any sort of drug crime, consider speaking with a skilled legal professional dedicated to protecting your rights and preserving your freedom. 

Categories

Archives