Why it matters: The passing of House Bill 387 in Florida will allow medicinal cannabis patients to renew their medical marijuana recommendation with a physician via telehealth appointments. Currently, Florida state law requires patients to receive an updated recommendation to use medical marijuana every 210 days (around seven months), and this bill would allow these updates to be completed remotely rather than in-person.
What they are saying: Republican state Representative Spencer Roach, who sponsored the bill, said, “[The bill] would treat the use of medical marijuana just like other medicines in the state of Florida.” While Florida’s largest medical marijuana provider, Trulieve, welcomed the bill’s passage, those in the Black farming community in Florida have also praised the legislation, which permits up to 12 additional licenses for Pigford class farmers. The bill includes provisions to help Black farmers obtain licenses to cultivate medical marijuana, bringing more fairness to Florida’s medical marijuana cultivation infrastructure.
The big picture: The passing of this bill marks a positive step in increasing accessibility for patients in need of medical marijuana in Florida, as it allows for easier renewal appointments during the pandemic and beyond. Furthermore, the provisions for Black farmers in the bill give a new level of inclusivity to Florida’s medical marijuana infrastructure.
What to watch: It remains to be seen whether Governor Ron DeSantis will sign the bill into law, but the strong bipartisan support that the bill received suggests that it has a good chance of being approved. Additionally, as telehealth appointments grow in popularity across all healthcare sectors during the pandemic, it is worth noting whether other states will follow Florida’s example and allow telehealth medical marijuana renewals in the future.
My take: The passing of House Bill 387 in Florida is encouraging news for medical marijuana patients and farmers alike. Allowing remote medical marijuana renewals provides patients with greater ease of access to the medicine they need. Moreover, the provisions for Black farmers show that Florida is taking a step towards a more inclusive and diverse medical marijuana industry. This news serves as a small glimmer of hope for positive changes in the industry overall.
