Clearly, a large majority of the 71% who voted yes on Amendment 2, are not happy with the regulations set forth by the 2017 legislature. With only two days remaining, it has become clear that what the voters thought they were going to get and what they are receiving are very different.

Appealing to lawmakers to do the right thing often goes nowhere. Especially when the perpetrators don’t see or won’t admit their position as contrary to what the people want or need. The 71% have voiced their opinions loud and clear regarding the regulations mandated by the Florida legislative group. Now, the end of the legislative session is days away. Amendment 2

regulations, authored by Florida’s Representatives and Senators have fallen short of expectations. Demands by the 71% have fallen on deaf ears, yet the politicians responsible continue to paint a picture of “Good regulations for our state.” It is likely this battle is nowhere near over.

The regulations for Amendment 2 have stripped millions of patients of their hope. The dreams and aspirations of becoming involved in an industry they had a passion for is gone. Now, patients are being told how they can consume a medication that is 100% legal according to a state constitutional amendment.

What the legislators have done is equivalent to doctors telling patients they will no longer be allowed to consume medicine orally. All medications which were previously designed for oral consumption will now only be allowed as a suppository. All suppository inserts must be registered. If anyone is caught using a non-registered and approved delivery device, they will be charged with a class 3 felony. If Doctors did that, flags would go up immediately. There would be calls for investigation. And if it was discovered that the lead doctor had possible connections to a business enterprise that manufactured suppository delivery systems, it would not be tolerated.

So now what?

What if the state of Florida had a party and nobody came? Millions of dollars were spent on the party and years of preparation. Promises were made and agreements signed. When the day of the big event arrives, what would the reaction of all those involved in the infrastructure be if no one showed?

The nurseries in Florida that have been authorized to cultivate marijuana and establish treatment centers were not a direct player in the legislative process. But,

it now affects them. Speculation suggests they knew it what was coming. They are on the side of politics not patients. They are in it for the money. It’s a business arrangement between them and the state of Florida. Not the patients. Some wonder why none of them voiced their opinion in support of patients demands and the legitimacy of Amendment 2. They remained silent.

Businesses profit from an open positive environment and a supportive consumer base. Businesses suffer when negative effects of their decisions are exposed to a wider public.

Cannabis users across the state were doing fine prior to the passing of Amendment 2. 71% of voters made a statement. They

would prefer to consume cannabis in a legal fashion. They want to have easy legal access to a simple herb that makes them feel better. They were offering to pay the state. It could have been so good.

But they were doing fine before. They wanted to make it better. It didn’t work out.

Now that Amendment 2 has evolved into something no one asked for, do we swallow hard, move forward and wait for another opportunity to get full legalization on the ballot in 2018? The state has shown its hand. Are we willing to go through this again? Legal cannabis comes with regulations also. What we have now is not close to what we expected.

An option is to remain doing what we have been for relief in the way we know best. The domestic black market has been quietly loyal. You have likely spoken to those who claim they will not patronize the legal path to access medical marijuana. If caught, they are willing to go the distance. A jury trial. It would seem a jury anywhere in Florida would be hesitant to vilify someone facing judicial punishment for consuming marijuana to obtain relief from whatever it is that ails them or their family. Regardless, patients are moving forward.

The War on Drugs in Florida continues. And remember, a War against Drug

s is a war against the people.Every one of us must do what is best for them. Either way, we will be fine. When you travel the high road, good things happen. We will all be surprised when the dominos tumble in the state sanctioned cartel. So many will fall from grace.