Florida Legislature not moving to address marijuana legislation this session

As the Legislature reaches the halfway point of the 2020 session, no committee has yet to hear any of the wide range of bills filed to address a list of issues in Florida’s medical marijuana program.

Marijuana advocates are frustrated and people in the industry are left scratching their heads.

2019 was an eventful year for cannabis, but without a constitutional amendment to be implemented or the prodding of Gov. Ron DeSantis to make moves, there is little motivation for leadership to take up marijuana bills.

Here’s a summary of what the Legislature isn’t doing on marijuana this year.

▪ Bill to waive the $75 medical card fee for patients who are veterans.

This bill would exempt veterans from having to pay fees to attain, replace or renew a medical marijuana card. The idea was brought up by Broward Democratic Sen. Gary Farmer as an amendment onto an existing marijuana bill during the 2019 legislative session but failed to make it on.

This year, the bill was filed in the Senate by Tampa Democrat Janet Cruz and in the House by Riverview Democrat Adam Hattersley, who is a Navy veteran.

Neither version of the bill has been heard in committee.

[Read more at Tampa Bay Times]