For many people, marijuana is a drug. It has been around for thousands of years and its cultivation has been recorded in China as early as 2737 B.C. According to history, there were more Americans that were addicted to marijuana in 1900 than when it was highly popular during the 1960s. Although still illegal in many countries as well as most states in the U.S., there have been many studies conducted for marijuana's use as medicine for a wide range of illnesses, which have been the subject of many debates.

Two Florida senators, Joe Saunders (D) and Jeff Clemens (D), introduced almost the same bills this year for the legalization of medical marijuana treatment. They wanted to have it approved before the public vote for a constitutional amendment comes up in November. For people like Florida Cannabis Action Network president Cathy Jordan, who is suffering from ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), the bill considers the patient first before politics.

According to the legislation and the amendment that had just been introduced, laws would be specifically spelled out regarding the tight regulations on the state level that will be required from doctors that will prescribe marijuana to treat conditions such as ALS, HIV/AIDS and cancer as well as other afflictions that are severely debilitating.

While Florida Governor Rick Scott and Pam Bondi, the state's Attorney General, are both opposed to the amendment to the constitution, the Florida Supreme Court has already approved the ballot language. If 60 percent of the voters approve it in November, it will definitely become a law.

If approved, the next legislation would deal with how marijuana will be grown, how it will be accessed and the consequences if those without legal rights seek to abuse it.

In the meantime, there were already 18 medical marijuana companies that have registered in the state of Florida just this year alone. Among those that are at the forefront is The Florida Medical Marijuana Treatment Center Institute, which will offer seminars and courses on the regulatory environment for medical marijuana use focused on retailers, processors as well as growers.