The History of Medical Marijuana in Sunrise, Florida
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Sunshine State Patients Didn’t Always Have the Freedom They
Do Now
You might call Sunrise, Florida a
picture-perfect American town. It’s got palm-lined streets, two cars in every
garage and now a friendly medical marijuana dispensary down on the corner.
However, medical marijuana in Sunrise, Florida wasn’t a reality until fairly
recently. Florida patients have waited a long time and fought hard for their
legal rights.
Sunrise, Florida has always been
fairly progressive on the issue of cannabis compared to the rest of the state.
Voters in Sunrise have been in favor of medical marijuana both times it’s been
on the ballot in the last few years. Broward County, where Sunrise resides,
effectively decriminalized cannabis in 2015, independently from the rest of the
state.
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| Medical Marijuana in Sunrise, Florida |
Since Florida’s medical marijuana
program was passed in 2016, patients have faced roadblocks along the way. The
most notable challenge was a ban on “smokable” marijuana products, which was
only lifted in March of this year. Finally, medical marijuana in Sunrise,
Florida is getting fully on its feet as patients gain access to a full range of
products and services.
You can get started on your card by
contacting a medical marijuana doctor in Sunrise, Florida today!
A Brief History of Medical Marijuana in Sunrise, Florida
Public opinion on cannabis first
turned sour in the 1930s. Prior to that time, it had been commonly prescribed
in tincture and salve forms in veterinary medicine and, less commonly, human
medicine. However, as cannabis began to gain popularity as a recreational drug
in jazz culture, stories began to emerge of its dangers.
At the helm of cannabis’ smear
campaign in the 1930s was Henry J. Anslinger, the first commissioner of the US
Bureau of Narcotics. Anslinger used misinformation to paint a picture of
cannabis as a dangerous, craze-inducing drug. His most commonly used story
about the dangers of cannabis came out of the Sunshine State.
In 1933, 21-year-old Victor Licata from
Tampa, Florida used an ax to murder his family. The youth had a long history of
mental illness but was also found to be under the influence of cannabis at the
time of the murder.
This story was used as evidence to
support the idea that marijuana causes aggression and insanity. Police involved
in the case later conceded that cannabis played only a small part in Licata’s
condition. However, the story was already out and cannabis’ image had been
permanently tarnished.
As more colleges and universities
opened across Florida throughout the 1950s and 60s, the younger population
brought in cannabis culture with them.
Throughout the 1970s, Florida was
the first port of call for cannabis smugglers.
The War on Drugs of the 1980s
cracked down hard on drug imports.
However, in 1988, The Miami Herald reported that cannabis
was the second biggest crop in the state and was valued at over $400 million
per year.
Medical Marijuana Finally Reaches Sunrise, Florida
As the 90s progressed and attitudes
on cannabis relaxed once again, advocates in Florida began pushing for cannabis
legalization. Much stayed the same for medical marijuana patients in Sunrise,
Florida throughout this time.
Change on cannabis policy finally
gained a foothold in 2014 when the Florida Senate decriminalized CBD-based
treatments for seizures. In the state election of 2014, 57% of Floridians voted
in favor of medical marijuana. The vote required a supermajority, however, so
this was not enough to bring about a change in Florida’s medical marijuana law.
The following year in 2015, Broward
County voted to treat cannabis possession under 20 grams as a civilization,
incurring only a fine. Commissioners responsible for the change reasoned that
too many lives had been ruined over minor drug infractions. The policy had a
3-strike policy with increasing fines, and a drug education program or rehab
after the 3rd offense.
Medical marijuana patients in
Sunrise, Florida were relieved when the state finally passed its medical
cannabis program in 2016. It has been a slow process of licensing and opening
dispensaries, stocking product and getting it into patient’s hands in that
time. When the ban on smokable products was lifted in March 2019, it opened the
door for patients to finally have full access to cannabis.
Medical Marijuana in Sunrise, Florida Sees Great Progress,
Not the End of the Fight
As you can see, gaining access to
medical marijuana in Sunrise, Florida hasn’t always been a walk in the park.
Florida has always been on the front line of the war on drugs, but public
opinion has swung in favor of cannabis over the years. Finally, patients are
able to access the medicine they need and use it without fear.
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