marijuana law | The Health Law Firm Blog

Florida Governor: Crush Out Pot Smoking Ban

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On January 17, 2019, new Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that the Florida State Legislature should end its losing efforts to keep in place a ban on smoking medical pot or he will end the state’s defense of the “no smoking” policy in a pending lawsuit. The current lawsuit was brought because the state Legislature and former administration was taking the position that medical marijuana could not be smoked, despite the amendment to the Florida Constitution that was passed making medical marijuana legal. The constitutional amendment does not say anything at all about […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:19-04:00January 22, 2019|marijuana law, Marijuana Law Blog|

Failed Medical Marijuana Applicant’s Appeal Goes Up in Smoke Thanks to Pennsylvania Court

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On April 20, 2018, a Pennsylvania court agreed that a company that lost out on a potentially profitable cannabis dispensary permit needed to exhaust administrative remedies before it could file suit. The suit would challenge the constitutionality of the application process for the state’s new medical marijuana program.

A court panel rejected arguments from Keystone ReLeaf LLC (Keystone), which has asked that all medical marijuana permits issued by the state’s Department of Health (DOH) be revoked. Keystone claims that the administrative appeals process did not […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:24-04:00July 5, 2018|marijuana law, Marijuana Law Blog|

Canada to Legalize Recreational Marijuana in 2017: Spring Breakers to Go North Next Year

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
On April 20, 2016, Canada’s Health Minister announced that the Canadian government will introduce a new law in the Spring of 2017 to legalize recreational marijuana and regulate sales. This law fulfills Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s election pledge and follows the footsteps of several U.S. states that are attempting to decriminalize and permit easy access to the drug.

The Details.

Canada’s Health Minister Jane Philpott, who recently spoke at a special session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, said the Canadian law will ensure marijuana is kept away from children and keep criminals from […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:02:02-04:00May 15, 2018|marijuana law, Marijuana Law Blog, Medical Marijuana|

Could Marijuana Be a Successful Treatment For Opioid Addiction? Lawmakers Are Considering This Alternative Treatment

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

Recently, a growing number of patients and doctors have claimed that medical marijuana may help treat addiction to painkillers and heroin. These claims have intrigued lawmakers and advocates who are pushing for marijuana as a treatment for the abuse of opioids and narcotics like heroin, as well as an alternative to painkillers.

One Problem: Very Little Supporting Research.

As there has been a growing problem with addiction to painkillers and heroin, this seems like a promising treatment. There is one problem however. There […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:02:02-04:00May 15, 2018|marijuana law, Marijuana Law Blog, Medical Marijuana|

New Study Reveals Only One Long Term Effect From Smoking Marijuana

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

According to new research, long-term marijuana use may not be so bad for your health after all. A recent long-term study of nearly 1,000 New Zealanders from birth to age 38 has found that people who smoked marijuana for up to 20 years have more gum disease, but otherwise do not show worse physical health than non-smokers.

The researchers’ findings, published in the June issue of The Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) Psychiatry, found that among the 38-year-olds surveyed, 55.6% of people who had smoked marijuana regularly for 15 or 20 years had gum disease, while […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:02:02-04:00May 15, 2018|marijuana law, Marijuana Law Blog, Medical Marijuana|

DEA Nixes Removing Marijuana From Its Highly Restricted Drug Classification

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On August 11, 2016, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) denied a petition to lessen federal restrictions on the use of marijuana for the fourth consecutive time. The DEA rejected petitions to remove marijuana from its most highly restricted classification of drugs, which includes heroin and ecstasy, but announced a new policy to support expanded research into the substance.

The Federal Status of Marijuana.

Reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule 1 to a Schedule 2 drug would have made it easier to get federal approval for studies of its uses as well as for doctors to start writing […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:02:02-04:00May 15, 2018|marijuana law, Marijuana Law Blog, Medical Marijuana|

Study Finds States That Allow Medical Marijuana May Have Less Opioid Use

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On September 15, 2016, a new study was released from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, that suggests people in states that allow medical marijuana may be using fewer opioid painkillers. Researchers analyzed crash data in 18 states from 1999 to 2013 and revealed that states that allow medical marijuana use saw a reduction in opioid involvement in fatal car accidents.

The Relationship Between Medical Marijuana Laws and Opioid Use.

The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, is the first look at how the […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:02:02-04:00May 15, 2018|marijuana law, Marijuana Law Blog, Medical Marijuana|

Legal Access to Marijuana Expands: California Legalizes Recreational Pot & Florida Legalizes Medical Marijuana

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

After looking at the red and blue map of America from the recent presidential election, it may be time to add some green. On November 9, 2016, the movement to legalize marijuana, which has been in the public eye for some time now, took a giant step forward. Voters in California voted to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Voters in Florida, the third most populous state, overwhelmingly finally said yes to legalize medical marijuana use.

Expanding Legal Access to Marijuana.

Twenty-five states have already approved the use of medical marijuana and four states allowed recreational use. California, […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:02:02-04:00May 15, 2018|marijuana law, Marijuana Law Blog, Medical Marijuana|

Florida Proposed Amendment: Telemedicine Exams Not Allowed for Medical Marijuana Doctor Order

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On December 8, 2016, The Florida Board of Medicine issued a proposed amendment to its telemedicine regulations to clarify that physicians cannot order medical cannabis or low-THC cannabis through telemedicine. The regulation is in the preliminary stages and awaits further review

It’s been proposed that Florida residents seeking medical marijuana prescriptions will need to have an in-person examination first.

The Board originally issued the current telemedicine rules in the Spring of 2014. This amendment would add a new Section (5) to the Standards for […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:02:03-04:00May 15, 2018|marijuana law, Marijuana Law Blog, Medical Marijuana|

Orlando To Be Site for Opening of First Florida Medical Marijuana Dispensary

By Shannon McDonough, Legal and Marketing Intern

Central Florida Making Strides Toward Medical Marijuana Acceptance.

Central Florida has jumped on the bandwagon with the acceptance of the alternative medicine, medical marijuana. The first medical marijuana dispensary in Florida is opening within the next few weeks in Orlando. It will offer patients the option of medical marijuana to help treat pain and other symptoms. The dispensary, being opened by Knox Medical, is to be located on North Orlando Avenue at Ivanhoe Village in Orlando, Florida. This is the first dispensary location in Florida. Knox Medical states that it hopes to open four additional sites around the state.

Knox Medical Group Is Licensed to Cultivate and Sell Medical Grade Marijuana.

Knox Medical is one of just […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:02:03-04:00May 15, 2018|marijuana law, Marijuana Law Blog, Medical Marijuana|