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Politics

Judge Rules Patients Can Smoke Marijuana

May 26, 2018 - 6:00am

A state law banning patients from smoking medical marijuana is unconstitutional, a Tallahassee judge ruled late Friday.

In a highly anticipated but not surprising decision, Leon County Circuit Judge Karen Gievers found that a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2016 that broadly legalized medical marijuana gives eligible patients the right to smoke the treatment in private.

The law banning smoking of medical marijuana “is invalid because it conflicts with the Florida Constitution and prohibits a use of medical marijuana that is permitted by the amendment: smoking in private,” Gievers wrote in Friday’s 22-page order.

A spokesman for the Florida Department of Health said the state is expected to appeal, which likely would place Gievers’ order on hold.

Gievers’ decision came a little more than a week after a hearing in which Cathy Jordan, a patient who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease more than three decades ago, told the judge she credits smoking joints with saving her life.

Jordan is among the plaintiffs in the lawsuit initiated by John Morgan, the Orlando trial lawyer who largely bankrolled what was known as Amendment 2. The prohibition on smoking medical marijuana was included in a law passed last year that implemented the constitutional amendment.

The amendment does not expressly authorize smoking pot but gives the state the authority to enact regulations regarding medical marijuana use, lawyers for the state have maintained.

But, agreeing with the plaintiffs, Gievers found that the language in the amendment “recognizes there is no right to smoke in public places, thereby implicitly recognizing the appropriateness of using smokable medical marijuana in private places consistent with the amendment.”

The “ability to smoke medical marijuana was implied” in the constitutional language “and is therefore a protected right,” Gievers wrote.

Shortly after Gievers’ opinion was released, Morgan tweeted: “When I start something I finish it. Truth prevails!! The voters will be done!! #BELIEVE #ForThePeople #NoSmokeIsAJoke.”

Sen. Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican who will take over as Senate president in the fall, said Friday evening he had not read the order but intended to review it to ascertain the judge's reasoning. "It is a significant departure from what was passed (in the law)," he said.

Lawmakers enacted the prohibition on joints --- derided as “no smoke is a joke” by critics --- largely to protect the public from the ill effects of smoking, lawyers for the state argued during the May 16 hearing.

But Jon Mills, a former House speaker who was instrumental in crafting the amendment and represents the plaintiffs, insisted that the Constitution in a variety of ways allows smokable marijuana, including in how marijuana is defined.

For example, the constitutional amendment relied on a 2014 definition of marijuana in Florida criminal law, which includes “all parts of any plant of the genus Cannabis, whether growing or not.” That includes whole-flower marijuana, which is used for smoking, the plaintiffs contend.

Gievers agreed.

“The amendment addresses the role of each of the three branches of Florida’s government in making sure that those who need marijuana for treatment of their pertinent medical issues are able to have safe access to it, without restriction except that there is no right to smoke in public places,” she wrote.

During the May 16 hearing, Jordan --- who relied on her husband to interpret her speech --- testified that she was given three to five years to live after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, in 1986. She began smoking marijuana as a treatment a few years after she was diagnosed, Jordan said.

Other routes of administration --- such as vaping --- don’t work for her, Jordan said.

Smoking gives Jordan “dry mouth,” which offsets the excessive drooling caused by ALS, she said. And it relaxes her muscles, increases her appetite and helps combat depression, Jordan said.

“It just makes my life a lot more bearable,” said Jordan, who currently grows her own marijuana.

Ben Pollara, the campaign manager of the political committee behind Amendment 2, hailed the judge’s ruling.

“This is a huge victory for sick and suffering Floridians, who can now consume their medicine however they choose. And it’s a victory for voters, whose clear will had been thwarted by the Legislature. No smoke is a joke, and today the court agreed,” said Pollara, who’s also the head of the non-profit organization Florida for Care, which advocates for patients and the medical marijuana industry.

Friday’s decision was the second victory Gievers handed to patients who have challenged the state over medical-marijuana restrictions. Last month, she gave the go-ahead to Tampa strip-club owner Joe Redner to grow his own medical marijuana for “juicing.” The 77-year-old Redner’s doctors ordered the juicing treatment to keep his lung cancer in remission. The state has appealed Gievers’ decision.

Mills praised Gievers’ ruling in the smokable marijuana case.

“I’m delighted that the Constitution has prevailed,” he told The News Service of Florida. “This upholds the will of the people, and we’re grateful the justice system worked.”


READ MORE FROM SUNSHINE STATE NEWS

Pot Rule Could Lead to More Challenges, Delays

Marijuana Home-Grow Battle Goes to Supreme Court

 

Comments

The only reason why this bru ha ha is still going is simply because the GOP is not in the Cannabis "money." If they were, it be legal even for recreational use. Don't be fooled - all eyes are on those states that have legalize recreational use. The tax revenue is intoxicating - It Not An If But A When.

This was a no-brainer from the start. The people spoke, but the legislature and Gov. of Floriduh thinks they are above the vote and will of the people. They think only they know what is best for you and I. These are the idiots that you voted for and surprisingly, continue to vote for. Some of you need your heads examined...

I did a little looking around and found this article, https://lizzadisu.blogspot.in/2018/05/florida-ban-on-smokable-medical-pot.html In this article they name the spokesman, Devin Galetta: It seems that he goes by a bunch of different names-see https://www.mylife.com/devin-galetta/e304650015792 (AKA:Anthony Galetta devin, Devin A Galetta, Galetta Devin, Devin Anthony) Devin Galetta | Interim Communications Director & Media and Marketing Manager Office: 850-245-4377 Cell: 850-528-8881 Email: devin.galetta@flhealth.gov Devin Galetta joined the Florida Department of Health as Media and Marketing Manager in May 2017. He is charged with developing state-wide marketing and outreach campaigns to promote a healthy Florida. Devin was formerly the Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications for the Florida State University Libraries, serving the universities' 13 research libraries. Prior to working at Florida State University, he worked as a Communications Specialist for the Florida Department of Financial Services under Florida's Chief Financial Officer. Devin brings eight years of communications and marketing experience to the department. He received his bachelor's degree in political science from Florida State University. http://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/media-resources/press-team.html Let us hope that the department of health is not playing politics with the best interests of the people of Florida. For many years before the prohibition of cannabis, it was used medicinally and had a very extensive pharmacopeia distribution system, that is until some confused in the head prohibitionist was allowed to create new laws that has screwed up this and many other countries. I hope that I see the end of this prohibition on cannabis and the beginning of a new era where the products from this plant will rejuvenate our economies and our societies.

The use of cannabis as medicine is thousands of years old. Going back to the Chinese and Japanese about 8-10 thousand years ago. Every major civilization had cannabis listed in their medical literature. It is safer than opiates, less addictive than caffeine, and overuse doesn't result in death. Why the state continues to hire prohibitionists and fight against medical cannabis astounds me. Thanks for the insights.

It's time Scott and Bondi quit violating the Constitution and time for Scott's handpicked blivet Bax to quit violating the Constitution and state law. They need to quit using our tax dollars to fight against Medical Cannabis. Get out from between a Doctor and Patient.

"JUDGES RULE" (That is such a sickening sounding statement,... and a foreboding premonition of "progressive desires" contrary to a "Constitutional Republic" where NOBODY "RULES" but "We The People"!!! (These "Judges" and their lackey lawyers and complicit media wonks MUST be contained ! ) VOTE carefully Folks (and DON'T "EXTEND" ANY Judges "on their perches",.. like the "preaching parrots" they've become over past decades...)

The voters also ruled dumbass...

"A spokesman for the Florida Department of Health said the state is expected to appeal, which likely would place Gievers’ order on hold." Could someone find out the name of this "spokesman", I have a wish for them, and it is not a good wish.

Comments are now closed.

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