Conversations on Cannabis | January 20, 2021

Educate. Learn. Talk about Marijuana in Florida.

Join a Conversation about Cannabis

in the Workplace on January 28

Clearing Confusion About Marijuana Use

How to get a Florida Medical Marijuana ID Card

Let’s Talk about Marijuana

and the Workplace

Register to join the next Conversations on Cannabis virtual forum on Thursday, January 28 at noon. This forum will feature Attorney Kamilah Perry, Executive Director and General Counsel for the 9th Circuit Court State Attorney's Office, who will talk about what employers and employees need to know about marijuana in the workplace. Click the link below to attend and be heard.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Clearing Confusion

About Marijuana Use

Marijuana laws are changing across the country as states adopt legalization and decriminalization initiatives, many backed by voters. Yet, a 2020 study by the American Civil Liberties Union shows Black people are 3.64 times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana possession, despite using marijuana illegally at similar levels.

While there’s a growing movement within Florida and other states to relax marijuana laws, the federal government still treats it — irrespective of medicinal or recreational use — as an illegal substance. This can cause confusion and potentially lead to problems.

AVOID CONFLICTS WITH

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Tampa-based criminal defense attorney Patricia Dawson says a medical marijuana patient in Florida could still run into difficulty with federal laws in certain circumstances.

“You can’t use [medical marijuana] on public transportation and public parks. There’s a whole list of places you can’t use medical marijuana, so the obvious best place to use it is in your home. You’ll be in violation of your medical marijuana card if you’re using it in places you’re not supposed to.”

AVOID CONFLICTS WITH

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

When it comes to illegal (recreational) marijuana, Terence Calloway, police chief and assistant vice president of safety at Florida A&M University (FAMU), strongly suggests not smoking it while riding in a car because of the risk of being pulled over by police. The smell of burnt cannabis could lead to serious consequences.

“Don’t smoke and get in your car,” he warns. “You’re giving probable cause to the police. If they pull you over and they smell it … they will search your car without asking you…. Don’t argue with the police when pulled over because you are not going to win that battle. As soon as you start arguing, they can take you to jail for disorderly conduct. As soon as they grab you and you pull back, they can charge you for resisting arrest. And it now goes from a simple misdemeanor to a felony.”

ENFORCING MARIJUANA LAW

Mutaqee Akbar, a criminal defense attorney in Tallahassee, says, “Most of the law enforcement agencies are still making arrests. Some agencies are more likely to make an arrest than other agencies, mainly the Florida Highway Patrol. I did not see any kind of break in their enforcement of marijuana. They’re pretty much leaving it up to the state attorney’s office to do what they have to do.”

Read Florida’s Marijuana Statute here.

Cannabis News Roundup

Bay News 9: Florida Medical Marijuana Bill Would Reduce Patient Doctor Visits to Once a Year

CNN: Toxins in Marijuana Smoke May Be Harmful to Health, Study Finds

Marijuana Moment: Biden’s Commerce Secretary Pick Wants Cannabis Sold in Government-Run Stores

How to Get Medical Marijuana in Florida

Only a qualified physician can recommend medical marijuana in Florida, but a patient still must get a registry identification card to obtain the drug from an approved treatment center.

Click here to

find a qualified

physician.

Click here to apply for a Medical Marijuana Use Registry Identification Card.

Click here

to find a Medical

Marijuana Treatment

Center near you.

What People Are Saying About Marijuana

During each Conversations on Cannabis virtual forum, we ask audience members to share their views or experiences.

“Not my personal story, but someone close to me just lost their job after a random drug test was done and they tested positive for marijuana and did not have a medical marijuana card.” - V.Y. in Pensacola, Fla.

“Medical Marijuana changed my mind set about how I want to help people since cannabis has done so much with my anxiety and depression. I want to spread the same awareness and knowledge of the many benefits cannabinoids do to help someone.”

- A.J. in Miramar, Fla.