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State of Florida Sued as DOH Fails to Grant New Pot Licenses

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On November 22, 2017, a plant nursery and a man who has epilepsy, filed suit alleging that it’s “high time” for the Florida Department of Health (DOH) to comply with a Florida constitutional amendment and its implementing legislation. The constitutional amendment requires the DOH to license more medical marijuana treatment centers. According to the suit that has been filed, DOH’s failure to do so is depriving patients of medication that they really need.

The Number of Licenced Treatment Centers.

Bill’s Nursery, Inc., and Michael Bowen filed suit accusing the DOH of failing to meet an October 2017 deadline to expand the number of licensed treatment centers in the state by an additional ten as it is being argued, is required by The Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative. […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:42-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Pharmacy Law Blog|Tags: approval of Florida Constitution Amendment 2, expanding marijuana industry in Florida, health lawyers for marijuana distributors, lawyer for medical marijuana growers and distributors, legal counsel for marijuana industry, legal counsel for medical marijuana, legal representation for medical marijuana growers and distributors, Medical and recreational marijuana use, medical marijuana defense attorney, medical marijuana dispensary defense attorney, medical marijuana growers and distributors, medical marijuana lawyer, the health law firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, The Health Law Firm reviews|Comments Off

Study Finds States That Allow Medical Marijuana May Have Less Opioid Use

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On September 15, 2016, a new study was released from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, that suggests people in states that allow medical marijuana may be using fewer opioid painkillers. Researchers analyzed crash data in 18 states from 1999 to 2013 and revealed that states that allow medical marijuana use saw a reduction in opioid involvement in fatal car accidents.

The Relationship Between Medical Marijuana Laws and Opioid Use.

The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, is the first look at how the relationship of medical marijuana laws might affect the use of opioid painkillers. “After the implementation of a medical marijuana law, there appears to be less opioid use, at least among […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:02:02-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: marijuana law, Marijuana Law Blog, Medical Marijuana|Tags: alternative addiction treatment, alternative for painkillers, American Journal of Public Health, attorneys for physicians, Board of Medicine defense lawyer, defense attorney, Department of Health defense counsel, health lawyers for marijuana distributors, lawyer for medical marijuana growers and distributors, legal counsel for marijuana growers and distributors, Marijuana treatment for opioid addiction, medical marijuana defense attorney, medical marijuana for patients with chronic pain, medical marijuana laws, medical marijuana lawyer, medical marijuana legalization, pharmacist legal defense attorney, reviews of The Health Law Firm, substituting medical marijuana for prescription opioid painkillers, the health law firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews|Comments Off

Legal Access to Marijuana Expands: California Legalizes Recreational Pot & Florida Legalizes Medical Marijuana

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

After looking at the red and blue map of America from the recent presidential election, it may be time to add some green. On November 9, 2016, the movement to legalize marijuana, which has been in the public eye for some time now, took a giant step forward. Voters in California voted to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Voters in Florida, the third most populous state, overwhelmingly finally said yes to legalize medical marijuana use.

Expanding Legal Access to Marijuana.

Twenty-five states have already approved the use of medical marijuana and four states allowed recreational use. California, along with Massachusetts and Nevada approved the legalization of recreational pot use. Florida was joined by Arkansas, Montana and North Dakota in approving medical marijuana use.

Florida’s Amendment 2 passed with […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:02:02-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: marijuana law, Marijuana Law Blog, Medical Marijuana|Tags: approval of Florida’s Amendment 2, expanding marijuana industry, health lawyers for marijuana distributors, lawyer for medical marijuana growers and distributors, legal counsel for marijuana industry, legal counsel for medical marijuana, legal representation for medical marijuana growers and distributors, marijuana defense attorney, Medical and recreational marijuana use, medical marijuana defense attorney, reviews of The Health Law Firm, the health law firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, The Health Law Firm reviews|Comments Off

Orlando To Be Site for Opening of First Florida Medical Marijuana Dispensary

By Shannon McDonough, Legal and Marketing Intern

Central Florida Making Strides Toward Medical Marijuana Acceptance.

Central Florida has jumped on the bandwagon with the acceptance of the alternative medicine, medical marijuana. The first medical marijuana dispensary in Florida is opening within the next few weeks in Orlando. It will offer patients the option of medical marijuana to help treat pain and other symptoms. The dispensary, being opened by Knox Medical, is to be located on North Orlando Avenue at Ivanhoe Village in Orlando, Florida. This is the first dispensary location in Florida. Knox Medical states that it hopes to open four additional sites around the state.

Knox Medical Group Is Licensed to Cultivate and Sell Medical Grade Marijuana.

Knox Medical is one of just a few companies that have obtained licenses to grow and sell medical grade marijuana. Knox Medical Group states that it expects this dispensary to be a respectable and exclusive venue. […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:02:03-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: marijuana law, Marijuana Law Blog, Medical Marijuana|Tags: approval of Florida Constitution Amendment 2, expanding marijuana industry in Florida, health lawyers for marijuana distributors, lawyer for medical marijuana growers and distributors, legal counsel for marijuana industry, legal counsel for medical marijuana, legal representation for medical marijuana growers and distributors, Medical and recreational marijuana use, medical marijuana defense attorney, medical marijuana dispensary defense attorney, medical marijuana growers and distributors, medical marijuana lawyer, the health law firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, The Health Law Firm reviews|Comments Off

Inconsistency in Legislation Leads to Legal Challenge of Florida Medical Marijuana Law

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

Challenge to Florida Legislatures’s Limitation on Medical Marijuana Use.

Despite the passage of a Florida Constitution Amendment by the people of the state of Florida in November 2016, the Legislature continues to attempt to artificially limit its access and availability. Current legislation bans the direct inhalation of the drug, opting for other forms that are far scarcer.
People United for Medical Marijuana continues to be a major activist for the complete legalization of medical marijuana. “People United” has challenged the current bill to make medical use of the drug more accessible and more directly available.

Attorney John Morgan’s Role.

Attorney John Morgan of Orlando, Florida, is leading the push to ensure that state legislation clearly authorizes the use of medical […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:02:03-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: marijuana law|Tags: approval of Florida Constitution Amendment 2, expanding marijuana industry in Florida, health lawyers for marijuana distributors, lawyer for medical marijuana growers and distributors, legal counsel for marijuana industry, legal counsel for medical marijuana, legal representation for medical marijuana growers and distributors, Medical and recreational marijuana use, medical marijuana defense attorney, medical marijuana dispensary defense attorney, medical marijuana growers and distributors, medical marijuana lawyer, the health law firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, The Health Law Firm reviews|3 Comments

New Report Reveals Massive $2.4 Billion Marijuana Impact on Colorado Economy

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
On October 27, 2016, the Marijuana Policy Project issued a report for 2015 stating that the state-legal medical marijuana industry had a $2.4 billion economic impact on the Colorado economy. The cannabis industry, the fastest-growing business sector in Colorado, is credited with funding 18,005 direct and ancillary full-time jobs in 2015, according to the report. The Marijuana Policy Group (MPG) who issued the report, is a Denver-based economic and market research firm that consults with businesses and governments on marijuana policy.

What Does This Mean For the State of Colorado?

The size of the marijuana industry is quite substantial now and the world is taking notice. As a result, new jobs are being created and operating businesses are generating substantial revenue. However, in the coming years, […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:02:03-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: marijuana law|Tags: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) claims defense attorney, customer slip and fall claims defense attorney, Growing marijuana industry in Colorado, health lawyers for marijuana distributors, lawyer for medical marijuana growers and distributors, legal counsel for marijuana growers and distributors, Marijuana Policy Group (MPG) report, medical marijuana defense attorney, medical marijuana laws, medical marijuana legalization, product liability claims defense attorney, reviews of The Health Law Firm, the health law firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews|Comments Off

State of Florida Sued as DOH Fails to Grant New Pot Licenses

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On November 22, 2017, a plant nursery and a man who has epilepsy, filed suit alleging that it’s “high time” for the Florida Department of Health (DOH) to comply with a Florida constitutional amendment and its implementing legislation. The constitutional amendment requires the DOH to license more medical marijuana treatment centers. According to the suit that has been filed, DOH’s failure to do so is depriving patients of medication that they really need.

The Number of Licenced Treatment Centers.

Bill’s Nursery, Inc., and Michael Bowen filed suit accusing the DOH of failing to meet an October 2017 deadline to expand the number of licensed treatment centers in the state by an additional ten as it is being argued, is required by The Florida Medical […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:02:03-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: marijuana law|Tags: approval of Florida Constitution Amendment 2, expanding marijuana industry in Florida, health lawyers for marijuana distributors, lawyer for medical marijuana growers and distributors, legal counsel for marijuana industry, legal counsel for medical marijuana, legal representation for medical marijuana growers and distributors, Medical and recreational marijuana use, medical marijuana defense attorney, medical marijuana dispensary defense attorney, medical marijuana growers and distributors, medical marijuana lawyer, the health law firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, The Health Law Firm reviews|Comments Off

Denver Coffee Shop May Become First Business to Allow Social Marijuana Use

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On December 12, 2017, the first application to allow social marijuana use in a business has landed in Colorado. This first application seeks to allow vaping and use of edibles southwest of downtown. Denver is the first in the U.S. to allow public consumption at businesses and at permitted events. You won’t have to fly all the way to Amsterdam any longer to partake of the weed.

The Coffee Joint.

The first that have applied to take advantage of this are two Denver entrepreneurs who plan to open a coffee shop called “The Coffee Joint.” The owners have connections to a marijuana dispensary next door. Despite the name, the coffee shop does not plan to allow the smoking of marijuana, only vaping and the consumption of edibles […]

Orlando City Council Vote to Extend Temporary Ban on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On November 14, 2016, Orlando’s City Council voted to extend its temporary ban on new marijuana dispensaries, less than a week after Florida voters backed a constitutional amendment to expand medical use of the drug. Back in July 2016, city commissioners voted to approve the temporary pause on marijuana dispensaries. The current ban is set to expire December 2016, but the city is pursuing an extension that would stretch the ban until July 1, 2017.

The Temporary Ban.

According to the city, the temporary ban will be beneficial because it will allow staffers to study the potential impacts of marijuana distributors, including whether they should be kept at arm’s length from neighborhoods, churches and schools. After the Legislature in 2014 legalized the low-THC oil known as […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:09-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: marijuana law, Marijuana Law Blog, Medical Marijuana|Tags: approval of Florida’s Amendment 2, expanding marijuana industry, health lawyers for marijuana distributors, lawyer for medical marijuana growers and distributors, legal counsel for marijuana industry, legal counsel for medical marijuana, legal representation for medical marijuana growers and distributors, marijuana defense attorney, Medical and recreational marijuana use, medical marijuana defense attorney, medical marijuana lawyer, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, The Health Law Firm reviews|Comments Off

Federal Judge Dismisses Former NFL Player’s Marijuana Decriminalization Suit

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On February 26, 2018, a New York federal judge dismissed a former NFL star’s suit demanding decriminalization of medical marijuana. U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein said the Second Circuit has already determined that Congress had a rational basis to classify marijuana as a Schedule I drug.

Schedule I drugs are those drugs that allegedly have no known currently accepted medicinal use and have a high potential for abuse. Marijuana is right up there with LSD and heroin (15,466 heroin overdose deaths in 2016).

The Fight for Marijuana Decriminalization.

The suit brought by Super Bowl winner and now weed entrepreneur Marvin Washington and others, seeks to challenge aspects of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) through the court […]