Judge strikes down Legislature's ban on smoking medical marijuana

[mia]

Source: Miami Herald

A Leon County circuit court judge ruled Friday afternoon that the state’s ban on smoking medical marijuana is unconstitutional, setting up continued legal fights as the state appeals the decision.

In a 22-page order, Judge Karen Gievers said that the Legislature's ban on smoking medical cannabis conflicted with the intent of a constitutional amendment that had broadly legalized the drug for medical use after voters approved it in 2016.

She concurred with arguments made last Wednesday by Jon Mills, an attorney for the plaintiffs, contending the definition approved by voters included "all types of medical marijuana," including forms that can be smoked. Mills had also argued that the amendment implicitly recognized smoking in private by recognizing that there was no right to smoke it in public places.

Gievers, in striking down the ban, invoked both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson in her decision and highlighted Washington's characterization of the constitution as a "sacred obligation."


Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article211954564.html

[GReedDiamond]

1. Good! - KnR...nt

[cbreezen]

2. K&R!

Can't help but notice that the excepted items include the ability blow up your house if you happen to get flower and you're not careful. What this is really about is big business and big pharma.

[WhiteTara]

3. Precedent. Very good. nt

[Uncle Joe]

4. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread mia

[sandensea]

5. God for them. With as much drug trafficking as there is in Florida,

you'd think they'd have gotten off their high horse a lot sooner.