The passage of Amendment 2 last November brought the discussion to the forefront of political discourse in the Sunshine State. The matter touches virtually every other topic in our Republican-controlled state legislature, from the budget to tax revenue – to business taxes, constitutional theory and traditional values.
The conservative legislature has been badgered by the medical marijuana issue consistently for the last several years, but it was potential gubernatorial candidate John Morgan, of Morgan & Morgan, who changed the game by championing the constitutional amendment and pushing it across the finish line.
The unexpected turn-of-events in an unprecedented election full of surprises last year made everyone really start thinking about Florida becoming the next California.
So, what exactly did Amendment 2 do?
The intent was to expand treatment options for those who might be alleviated in their ailments by the effects of cannabis sativa. It did so by changing the definition of “debilitating medical condition” and making it more broad, allowing physicians to prescribe marijuana if the medical uses “outweigh the potential health risks for a patient.” New conditions eligible for marijuana treatment would include cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, Crohn’s Disease, PTSD, Parkinson’s, ALS, multiple sclerosis, and potentially others.
