The fight to save Florida’s medical marijuana program

by | Apr 7, 2021




Rep. Spencer Roach

In 2016, Florida voters overwhelmingly expressed their desire for a safe and accessible medical marijuana program, and I am fighting to preserve the medical nature of the program that voters demanded. What we have now is a recreational drug program masquerading as a medical marijuana program, and the long-term societal carnage attendant with unfettered access to high-potency THC demands legislative action. That’s why I filed HB 1455. 

THC is the psychoactive component in marijuana that produces the ‘high’ which, like other narcotics, causes cognitive impairment, deterioration of motor skills, and euphoria. THC is highly addictive and many studies indicate a strong association with first-episode and chronic psychosis from frequent use of high-potency THC. Perhaps more alarming are the effects on brain development in children:  impaired brain function, high probability of graduating to other ‘hard’ drugs, impairments in learning and IQ reduction, and earlier onset of schizophrenia. 

Opponents of the bill are quick to state that marijuana is ‘natural.’ But the THC potency in today’s marijuana is anything but – modern cannabis has been genetically engineered and chemically processed to radically increase the potency – and the high – derived from marijuana. An average ‘joint’ in the 1970’s contained about 3% THC. Today the THC in our medical program ranges from 10%-28% for flower and up to 100% for other products. 

Studies indicate the medicinal value of THC in treating neuropathic pain is between 3 and 7%. There is no credible study anywhere in the world that demonstrates a medicinal value of THC above 10%.  The limits proposed in HB 1455 limit THC potency to 10% THC on smokable marijuana and 60% for other products, with exceptions for terminally ill patients. Opponents argue that a potency limit would only force them to buy more marijuana to achieve the same effect; they are correct: if they are using medical marijuana to get high, this bill makes that more difficult, which is precisely the intent.   

Of the 33 states with medical marijuana programs, 10 have potency limits and 18 have supply limits. Six states have both a medical marijuana program and legal recreational marijuana – strikingly, all six have potency limits in their recreational programs.  

Florida’s Board of Medicine tracks physician certifications for medical marijuana. In a haunting mirror image of the Opioid Epidemic, we are seeing a startling increase in certifications (this is the term of art for prescriptions since no doctor can legally prescribe a non-FDA-approved drug) by very few doctors. This year, 71% of certifications were issued by just 12% of physicians.  

Even more alarming statistic is the amount of marijuana doctors are certifying. The top marijuana doctor in Florida is issuing 142,889 mg per day – PER PATIENT! To put that in perspective, that would be the equivalent of taking 30 bottles of Tylenol per day. That’s over 4 million milligrams a month. It is physically impossible for a human being to ingest that daily dosage, which leaves us to wonder where these drugs are going?  

Well-heeled marijuana lobbyists like to say that using marijuana prevents opioid abuse, but the opposite is true. Studies indicate that medical marijuana users have twice the risk for prescription opioid abuse compared to non-users. A 2019 study found a 23% increase in opioid deaths for those who use medical marijuana. Big Marijuana – much like Big Pharma in days’ past – puts profits before the safety of patients.  

The doctors, manufacturers and patients abusing this program are doing so for two reasons – to get rich and to get high – not as medicine. The consequences of unlimited access to high potency THC are a greater high, increased tolerance, more addiction, more users, and of course – more profits. We have seen this movie before in Florida, and we know how it ends. We do not need a sequel.  

Florida legislators acted too late in response to the opioid crisis. We have a responsibility to act now, and an opportunity to act before it’s too late.  

Spencer Roach represents Florida’s 79th House District, which includes unincorporated Lee County.  He was first elected in 2018 and is serving his 2nd term in the Florida House. 

8 Comments

  1. T

    Pure propaganda. We see through your bs ROACH. YOU ARE NOT FOOLING ANYONE. YOU ARE NOT A DOCTOR. STOP ACTING LIKE YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MEDICINE. YOUR POLITICAL CAREER IS OVER!!!!

  2. Taylor

    Hey @ The Capitolist, how about you do a story about how this public servant, ROACH, has blocked me on his public office Facebook page from commenting on his posts as a concerned florida constituent voicing my opinion on how HB1455 would negatively mmj patients. I can share screen shots to prove it. You have my email. Reach out if you want to. I would be more than willing to provide evidence showing this lawmaker is silencing my freedom of speech. I’m sure I’m not the only one he has silenced. I filed report with state AG and florida ACLU.

  3. james

    Wow and we elected this guy. Everyone in his district needs to blast his office with emails.

  4. Anonymous

    Please properly cite these fake studies you mentioned. Otherwise, you are lying to people and know it.

  5. bif

    “The capitalist”? Nope… More like “The Propagandaist” or “the lobbiest”. Thanks for a good laugh.

  6. Justin

    And so what if it was a “recreational program” keep your big government bullshit the hell out of our lives you damn hypocrite. Funny how insurance companies don’t need to be regulated according to the POS GOP yet a harmless plant does.

  7. Mark McLeod

    He truly believed Refer Madness

    • Justin

      That’s illegal, the SCOTUS ruled a politician cannot block his constituents. I suggest contacting a lawyer.

 

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