This morning, the Florida House of Representatives voted 101 to 11 for Senate Bill 182, which moved to re-legalize the smokable form of marijuana for medical purposes in the state.

Thanks to last week’s unanimous approval by the state Senate, Bill 182 is now awaiting approval from Governor Ron DeSantis.

Controversy Surrounding Medical Marijuana in Florida

71% of Floridians voted to amend the Constitution of the State of Florida to allow the legalization of medical marijuana in 2016. That vote was meant to protect the rights of medical patients who were prescribed marijuana by their physicians, including the right to consume it in any form.

However, after the law was passed, former Florida Governor Rick Scott wasted no time to legislatively ban medical marijuana in its smokable form. In early 2019, Florida’s new Governor, Ron DeSantis, moved to change this law to reflect the original will of Florida residents who voted in favor of the amendment.

How does this vote change the law?

If the bill passes, medical marijuana patients will be permitted by Florida law to possess up to four ounces of cannabis in its herbal form. Herbal medical marijuana will be strictly controlled for those under the age of 18; they will only be permitted to access it if they are terminally ill and have received approval from two doctors.

Daytona Beach Drug Crime Lawyers

Drug crimes are a serious criminal offense according to the State of Florida. Fortunately, the criminal defense lawyers at Aaron Delgado & Associates have handled all kinds of drug-related offenses, from misdemeanors to capital felonies. In fact, several of our criminal defense lawyers have experience prosecuting drug crimes for the State of Florida. The experiences they had as prosecutors have provided them with critical insight to how the State goes about pursuing charges against someone accused of committing a drug crime.

If you've been arrested for a drug-related crime in Daytona Beach or the surrounding areas, contact our office today. In a free consultation with an experienced drug crime lawyer, your attorney will review your case and discuss possible defense strategies with you. If you or a loved one are currently in jail for a drug-related crime and cannot come to us, don't worry — we can come to you.