This bill is a good example of how the legislative process should be conducted: working together across party lines to solve problems.
By Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, (R), has signed legislation which may allow Black farmers to finally get involved in medical marijuana industry despite years and frustration among the Black farmer community.
The original intent of the bill ( HB 387), was to allow physicians to use Telehealth methods to renew certifications of medical marijuana for qualified patients.
In the final week of the session, Sens. According to a joint press release, Darryl Rouson and Tracie Davis have been working to resolve the lingering questions surrounding the issuance Medical Marijuana Treatment Center licenses (MMTCs) to Black farmers that had litigated in the federal Pigford v. Glickmanclass-action lawsuit.
The new state law stemmed from an amendment to the constitution in 2016 that addressed medical marijuana. It addresses this issue by issuing licenses to Black farmers who have received notice from the Department of Health of their intent to approve or deny the application, and whose application does not contain any deficiencies.
Rouson, who spoke to the Phoenix on Monday night, said: “It is time.” “The voters approved this in 2016. It was to be awarded (a license) to a Pigford farm. I believe they awarded seven licenses, but not the Pigford. Six years later, it’s time to make things right. “I’m grateful for the Governor signing it, and I am very grateful to Kathleen Passidomo who has tolerated our advocacy and persistence for this group which felt shut out.”
In a written statement, Sen. Davis said that “this bill represents the best of the legislative process – working together across the aisles to solve a problems.” “Today we have achieved a major milestone in our years-long efforts to allow Black farmers access to Florida’s flourishing industry of medical marijuana. This bill is the result of a collaboration between a variety of stakeholders, and it’s a win for farmers, their family, and civil rights.
The bill also allows medical marijuana patients to access telehealth services for the first-time in Florida.
Rep. Spencer Roach, a Republican, was the original sponsor in the House of the medical cannabis telehealth legislation. He said: “Governor DeSantis is continuing to show his commitment to expanding access to medicine for patients, in line with the overwhelming majority Florida voters. I am happy to have contributed to this process and grateful to Speaker Renner, President and Passidomo who kept an open mind. This is a true bipartisan win.”
The Phoenix reported earlier in the year that applicants for the Black farmer’s license were required to pay a nonrefundable fee of $146,000, which was twice as much as the initial amount.
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The 2017 law implementing this measure included a clause that stipulated one MMTC would be given to a Florida farmer who had received a settlement from in the Pigford case. This was a class action lawsuit brought by Black farmers who claimed that the U.S. Department of Agriculture discriminated against them when it came time to distribute loans and other assistance.
Terry Donnell Gwinn of Gwinn Brother Farms was the lucky recipient of this license. However, nearly all of the 11 other applicants who lost out a data-saferedirecturl=”https://www.google.com/url?q=https://mjbizdaily.com/losing-applicants-challenge/florida marijuana license award to black farmer/&source=gmail&ust=1687956523321000&usg= According to Marijuana Business Daily, Terry Donnell Gwinn, of Gwinn Brother Farms was the lucky winner. However, nearly all 11 applicants who were unsuccessful have filed legal challenges. A Black farmer has not been granted a license while the litigation is ongoing.
This article was originally published by Florida Phoenix.
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