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Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed legislation to extend telehealth renewals on medical marijuana and ensure more Black farmers participate in the industry.
The bill (HB 387) had bipartisan support in the Florida Legislature, though the tying of two issues together at times put the legislation on uneasy footing. The bill’s original version focused on extending the ability to renew medical prescriptions for cannabis remotely.
But in the final days of the session, lawmakers also addressed a long-pressing legal commitment to authorize medical marijuana licenses for a dozen Black farmers.
The law goes into effect July 1.
The signing offers many supporters a sigh of relief. Speculation arose in recent weeks that DeSantis might veto the bill over the promise of licenses for farmers within a specific minority demographic. The governor remains focused on ending diversity, equity and inclusion requirements within the state government, but his ultimately did not see any problem with the legislation worth nixing the bill.
Notably, the language about Black farmers satisfies federal requirements in place since 1999. For six years, the Legislature has sought to bring fairness to state licenses for marijuana production and come in line with the federal Pigford v. Glickman settlement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which prohibits government discrimination against minority farmers.
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