I understand that my state of Florida Has recently passed a medical marijuana bill, but that it is very limited in who qualifies to use it. I’m a chronic pain patient who has desperately been hoping to be able to try marijuana to alleviate my pain. In the last ten years I’ve been given every narcotic there is to control my pain. The side effects are awful and I’m hoping that medical marijuana will provide pain relief with fewer side effects.
So what’s the Straight Dope? Will chronic pain patients like myself be able to use Marijuana now in Florida? Will marijuana actually help those of us in pain? And lastly, why is it that politicians have s problem with marijuana use for pain, but they have no problem with doctors prescribing us morphine, Fentynal, oxycodone and the like?
I just want to not be in pain any longer and I would like to be able to take a medication for it that doesn’t put me to sleep 18 hours a day.
P.S. I’m sorry for constantly asking questions about pain and pain medication here. I’m not trying to be an attention whore, but the pain is a constant in my life and I’m just trying to find solutions.
“As he promised, Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill on Monday that legalizes the use of a non-euphoric strain of marijuana to treat conditions such as epilepsy, Lou Gehrig’s disease and cancer.”…
“There is still a larger medical marijuana debate going on this year in Florida. Voters will be asked in November to weigh in on Amendment 2, a much broader medical pot referendum that would legalize marijuana for a range of conditions.” http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/06/16/4182407/scott-signs-medical-marijuana.html
Another post which makes it clear:
"Under the bill signed by Gov. Scott on Monday, Senate Bill 1030, a specific strain of cannabis known as “Charlotte’s Web” will be grown and distributed through five dispensaries operated by established nursery owners in the state, who will cultivate the specific strain under closely regulated oversight. Only Florida nursery owners with businesses in operation for 30 or more continuous years will be allowed to grow “Charlotte’s Web.”
PastTense is correct. The marijuana that was legalized has, so far, been used to treat epileptic seizures. The traditional use of marijuana for pain relief is not what it is intended for.
But, in November, Amendment 2 would legalize medical use of traditional strains of marijuana. The ballot summary (which was the subject of an unsuccessful legal challenge by the state Attorney General) says that pot would only be legal for those with debilitating conditions, as determined by a doctor. But the actual law defines a debilitating condition as one where a doctor determines that the benefits of use outweigh the risks. So, a person with chronic pain should have no problem getting a prescription (especially if they find a doctor sympathetic to patients who desire to use pot).
At present, polls show strong support for the amendment. It will require at least 60% approval to pass. One thing to bear in mind is that the law gives the state’s Department of Health 9 months to create a regulatory scheme regarding production and distribution, so you won’t have legal access to medicinal marijuana until the end of 2015 (presuming it does pass).