Medical Marijuana Bill Set for State Senate Floor Vote is Postponed

TALLAHASSEE – Amid a fast-paced day on the floor of the Florida Senate, a medical marijuana bill was postponed in the chamber Tuesday by Senate President Andy Gardiner (R-Orlando).

Introduced by Fla. Sen. Rob Bradley (R-Fleming Island), SB 460, or Experimental Treatments for Terminal Conditions, would give qualifying patients access to purchase marijuana from licensed dispensers. The bill would authorize the dispensers to lawfully grow, possess and sell the drug.

Postponing a vote on SB 460, said Gardiner, was due to the Senate's hurried schedule for that day. In addition to temporarily halting its possible progress, the Orlando state Senator advised that some of his colleagues, who had been busy adding several amendments to the bill, run the risk of seeing the legislation go back to a committee vote.

"Just be duly noted that I'm a little concerned about the number of amendments and I can anticipate there will be more," added Gardiner while on the floor.

A Florida amendment that would allow doctors to write prescriptions for certain patients is up for vote on this November's ballot.