Medical Marijuana Update

A medical marijuana bill advances in Alabama, South Dakota lawmakers vote to delay the implementation of voter-approved medical marijuana, and more.

Alabama Senate Approves Medical Marijuana Bill. The state Senate approved a medical marijuana bill, SB 46, last Wednesday and sent it to the House for approval there. The bill would allow patients with specified medical conditions to receive marijuana with a physician's approval.

Florida

Florida Bills Aim to Restrict Medical Marijuana. Rep. Spencer Roach (D-North Fort Myers) and Sen. Ray Rodrigues (R-Estero) have filed companion bills, HB 1455 and SB 1958, respectively, that would place a 10% THC cap on smokable marijuana and limit THC levels to 16% in other, non-edible medical marijuana products. The bills would also impose advertising restrictions on doctors who recommend medical marijuana. They are being fiercely criticized by medical marijuana advocates, one of whom said the bills continue "to encroach on the practice of medicine between a physician and their patients using outdated, random and scientifically unsubstantiated information."

Missouri

Missouri Bill Would Protect Patients' Privacy, Gun Rights. Rep. Nick Schroer (R-O'Fallon) has filed HB 501, which would make disclosing patient information to the federal government a criminal offense. "I just want to make sure that we're protecting our Second Amendment rights and law abiding citizens who may have medical marijuana, but then they also have a weapon in their house to defend their family when necessary," Schroer said during his testimony on the bill in committee Wednesday. While the measure won support on the committee, no vote was taken.

South Dakota

South Dakota House Approves Bill Delaying Implementation of Medical Marijuana Legalization. The House voted last Thursday to approve a bill delaying implementation of voter-approved medical marijuana, HB 1100. The bill was the brainchild of Gov. Kristi Noem (R), who sought a one-year delay, but the bill was amended in the House to create only a six-month delay "in the spirit of compromise."