Marijuana Patients Say Florida’s New Dose Limits Stifle Treatment

Nearly six years after the legalization of medical marijuana in Florida, the state has imposed strict dosage limits for cannabis patients.

As of August 29, a new Florida Department of Health rule caps patients’ dosage across all major categories of medicinal marijuana, including a 350 mg daily limit on THC from vaporizers and a 60 mg daily limit on THC from edibles. The rule prohibits doctors from prescribing a patient more than 24.5 grams of THC, a primary active ingredient in marijuana, within a 70-day period, excluding smoking products.

Kristina Risola, the director of operations of Florida Medical Cannabis Clinic, calls the dose limits “completely arbitrary numbers.” She says the caps will prevent people from experimenting to find what products treat their condition best.

“Patients are using so many different types of medications, more THC, and higher tolerance builds from that,” Risola, who also serves as a cannabis health coach, tells New Times. “I understand we have to have dosing limits. It is the law. But these are just so unreasonably low that it feels like an intentional attack on THC.”

Jake, a 19-year-old from Lighthouse Point, says his medically recommended THC dose is much higher than the new limits. He opts for cannabis instead of pills to treat his anxiety because pharmaceutical drugs were turning him “into a robot,” he says. (Jake asked to be identified only by his first name out of concerns for medical privacy.)

[Read more at Miami News Times]