Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
DeSantis: Repeal ban on medical marijuana
WINTER PARK — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday gave state legislators a mid-March deadline to repeal a law that prohibits smokable forms of medical marijuana.
If they don’t, he said he would drop an appeal filed under his predecessor, Rick Scott, that has kept the ban in place. The Republican governor, who took office on Jan. 8, said the state has lagged in carrying out the constitutional amendment that passed with the support of more than 71 percent of voters in 2016.
“This is all about doing the people’s will,” DeSantis said, speaking to reporters at Kraft Azalea Garden in Winter Park, a city that banned medical marijuana dispensaries. “I don’t want this thing done judiciously if we can help it.”
Leaders of both chambers of the Legislature expressed a willingness to work with DeSantis on the issue, despite the tight timeline. The regular session starts March 5.
In May, Leon Circuit Court Judge Karen Gievers ruled the state’s ban on smokable cannabis was unconstitutional, a decision followed almost immediately by the state Department of Health appealing the case.
The lawsuit was spearheaded by Orlando attorney John Morgan, who bankrolled much of the campaign for the amendment.
“This has been my fight,” said Morgan, who stood next to the governor Thursday. “Since this governor was elected, I’ve been incredibly encouraged. He’s read the constitutional amendment and listened to the will of the people.”
DeSantis said he is sympathetic to terminally ill patients in need of medical marijuana.
“I think the Florida voters who voted for that wanted them to have access to medical marijuana under the supervision of a physician,” DeSantis said. “Whether they have to smoke it or not, who am I to judge that?”
But Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the only statewide elected Democrat in the state, expressed frustration that DeSantis didn’t immediately act.
“Every day that medical marijuana in the pure plant form is unavailable to patients, Floridians continue to suffer,” Fried said. “This is an issue I’ve seen firsthand throughout our state and country, and one that touches my family personally — my mother was recently diagnosed with cancer, and she is struggling to find medicine that relieves her suffering. The fact that she can’t access the medicine she needs breaks my heart.”
Legislative leaders backed DeSantis’ move and pledged to move quickly on legislation.
“A legislative solution has always been my preferred course of action, and we will certainly honor the Governor’s request to bring a bill forward early in the session that addresses both his concerns and those raised in litigation,” said Senate President Bill Galvano, RBradenton.
Sen. Gary Farmer, DLighthouse Point, followed DeSantis’ move by filing a bill to allow smokable medical pot. A similar bill he filed last year never received a hearing, as House leaders refused to go along with the proposal. But with DeSantis’ arrival in Tallahassee, a new consensus among the GOP could be forming.
“The governor’s willingness to engage with us is appreciated and the House will work with the governor on his priorities, including ensuring patients have options and our kids remain protected,” House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes.
At the end of the Winter Park news conference, Morgan, who backed Democrat Andrew Gillum in the governor’s race, shook DeSantis’ hand and told the governor that he didn’t vote for him but his wife did.
“People have told me that, yeah,” DeSantis said and burst out laughing, clapping Morgan on the back.