Florida legislators may let terminally ill patients use marijuana

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida legislators may change the law to allow terminally ill patients to use marijuana.

A House panel on Tuesday approved a bill that would change the state’s recently-enacted “Right to Try Act.” That law allows patients with less than a year to live to take experimental drugs.

Supporters of the measure (HB 307) say terminally ill patients should have access to marijuana so they don’t have to rely on drugs such as morphine to relieve their pain. Patients would not be allowed to smoke or inject pot.

The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee approved the bill, but several Republican legislators voted no. Rep. Gayle Harrell argued marijuana isn’t a “life-saving medication.” Rep. Charles Van Zant, whose mother recently died, disagreed with Harrell.

A Senate panel voted unanimously for a similar bill on Tuesday. A final decision on the legislation will occur during the session that starts in January.