It is the very last part of that language, ascribing the determination to physicians over whether or not marijuana is an appropriate treatment for any given patient, which is being targeted by opponents of the issue. The state Department of Health’s proposal, popular amongst conservative republicans in the state legislature, suggests that the Florida Board of Medicine should compile a simple list of condition for which marijuana could be used as treatment, therefore complying with the amendment’s language. Advocates for Amendment 2 suggest that such a measure would betray the spirit of the Amendment, which clearly describes an environment where individual physicians make the decision for their patients.
In all fairness to the Florida Legislature, acting on the amendment is not the first time they’ve tackled the issue.
In 2014, legislators passed a measure to offer medical cannabis with greatly reduced levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to some patients – the molecule which enables the high. While unable grant the person a feeling of euphoria, the special cannabis would retain its beneficial effects to dangerous symptoms such as seizures. Then, in 2016, the legislature passed additional language to allow terminally-ill patients to use any kind of cannabis, regardless of THC levels.
