Florida Regulators Put Pot Rule On Hold
September 6, 2014
Health regulators will almost certainly delay a rule that will eventually create the framework for the state’s new medical marijuana industry after an outcry from a legislative panel saying the proposed regulation went too far.
At what was expected to be the Department of Health’s final day-long hearing on the proposed rule Friday, Office of Compassionate Use Director Linda McMullen told a packed conference room that changes are likely.
“We’ve had many, many written comments, all of which have been helpful,” McMullen said, mentioning the letter from the Legislature’s Joint Administrative Procedures Committee, or JAPC, issued earlier this week. The missive challenged the health department’s authority regarding nearly every aspect of the proposed rule.
JAPC, which oversees state regulations, will have to certify that the health department responded to its questions before a revised rule can be filed, McMullen said. The agency will file the notice of the changed rule at least 21 days prior to adopting the new regulation.
Among the changes under consideration: altering a proposed requirement that nurseries meeting certain qualifications have just 25 percent ownership in the entities that receive one of five licenses to grow, process and distribute the newly-authorized strain of cannabis that purportedly does not get users high.
That definition is at odds with the law overwhelmingly approved this spring by the Legislature and supported by Gov. Rick Scott, according to Marjorie Holladay, JAPC’s chief attorney. The law requires applicants to have a valid registration from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to cultivate more than 400,000 plants, be operated by a nurseryman as defined by state law and have operated as a registered nursery in the state for at least 30 continuous years. At least 60 nurseries meet the criteria.
The DOH rule was intended to provide some financial protection for nurseries while allowing them to participate in the pot industry. Banks are not willing to lend to pot growers because marijuana is still illegal under federal law.
“There isn’t a nursery grower out there that wants to put their entire 30-year business on the line for this business, which has some level of uncertainty, certainly on the federal level,” said Jeff Sharkey, a lobbyist and founder of Medical Marijuana Business Associates. “The legal liability is huge.”
The Legislature this spring legalized strains of marijuana low in euphoria-inducing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and high in cannabadiol, or CBD, and gave the newly-created “Office of Compassionate Use” within the Department of Health until Jan. 1 to come up with a regulatory framework for the substance.
Supporters of the low-THC, high-CBD strains of cannabis believe the substance can eliminate or dramatically reduce life-threatening seizures in children with severe forms of epilepsy. Under the new law, patients with other spasm-causing diseases or cancer would also be eligible for the strains of marijuana if their doctors order it, and if their doctors say they have exhausted all other treatments.
Health officials are also reconsidering regional restrictions. Under the last version of the proposed rule, nurseries would only be allowed to apply for one of five licenses — one in each region of the state — but could have “transportation plans” that would allow them to deliver products to patients anywhere in the state. It is unclear what health officials are considering as an alternative.
On another front, Anthony Ardizzone of Ed Miller and Son nursery in Palm City said that the proposed rule is unfair because it limits growers from applying for more than one license but does not restrict other types of companies from joining up with nurseries and possibly owning a piece of every license.
“So why would a nursery be punished and told they can only apply once … but yet an entity has the allowability to apply multiple times? It seems like the entities are getting the better end of the deal,” Ardizzone said.
Department of Health General Counsel Jennifer Tschetter said her agency wanted to let nurseries team up with businesses with the best technology or experience cultivating and processing the low-THC product elsewhere.
” … I don’t know why we would deny them that opportunity,” she said.
The department is also considering changes that could allow more works to have access to the “compassionate use registry,” which McMullen said is ahead of schedule. Doctors will enter eligible patients’ names and dosages into the database, and dispensing organizations will also access the database when they fill orders.
Artezzoni also objected to the rule that requires the dispensing facility be located on the same property or “very near” to where the plants are grown and the substance is processed, saying it puts his operation in jeopardy.
“To do it at my site and bring people to the site, and I’m sorry there is ignorance out there in the public, many people are not going to know that what we’re doing at this stage … you can’t get high from,” he said, adding that the situation could become more problematic if Florida voters approve a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would legalize “traditional” medical marijuana. “To have the general public have availability to where we’re growing this is not a good idea.”
Holley Moseley?, a Panhandle mother who helped convince the Legislature to approve the legislation on behalf of her adopted daughter RayAnn, and her husband have joined forces with the Colorado-based Stanley brothers, whose “Charlotte’s Web” strain of cannabis spearheaded the national push for the low-THC, high-CBD as a treatment for children with severe epilepsy.
“You’ve got to have a safe product. There’s no way I am going to give my daughter a product that can cause her more harm. We’ve done many things and we think this is going to be her magical drug that changes her life and our lives completely,” Moseley said.?
Cantonment Cowboys Play Home Openers Today
September 6, 2014
The Cantonment Cowboys will have play their home openers today.
Games will be played as follows:
- 10 a.m. – Mighty Mites
- 11:30 a.m. -Mini Mites
- 1:00 p.m. – Mites
- 2:30 p.m. – Midgets
- 4:00 p.m. – Juniors
Games are played at 681 Well Line Road in Cantonment.
Precautionary Lockdown At Holman Prison
September 5, 2014
Holman Prison in Atmore was placed under a precautionary lockdown Friday after a guard was attacked by an inmate over a cell phone, according to officials. The officer was injured during a “shakedown”, or search, for the contraband phone.
The officer was treated for injuries not considered life threatening and received three stitches in his head. There were no other injuries reported.
The incident was brought under control by prison staff, and the facility remained under the precautionary lockdown into Friday afternoon.
Holman Prison is about 11 miles north of the Alabama/Florida line. The maximum security facility is home to Alabama’s death row.
Florida Prepaid College Program Readies Refunds, Lowers Rates
September 5, 2014
Carrying out a new law aimed at holding down higher-education costs, the Florida Prepaid College Board on Thursday approved lowering the program’s prices and refunding nearly $200 million to about 18,000 families, according to a news release issued by the board.
The announcement came as prices were set for the 2014-15 open-enrollment period, which starts October 15. The program, formally known as the Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Program, is designed to allow families to pay years in advance and lock in the costs of sending students to state colleges or universities.
Lawmakers and Gov. Rick Scott this spring approved a measure that included steps such as reinstituting a cap on the fund’s payments to colleges and universities and rolling back a “differential tuition” law, which allowed university tuition increases of as much as 15 percent a year.
The prepaid program had to take into account the possibility of differential increases, which are now barred at most universities and would be allowed at 6 percent for the University of Florida and Florida State University. Prices for newly purchased plans will decrease as much as 50 percent from last year, according to the prepaid board. Families that purchased plans in recent years at higher prices will see their payments reduced or will receive refunds if they are paid in full.
by The News Service of Florida
Century’s Mayor Recovering From ‘Life Saving’ Surgery
September 5, 2014
Century Mayor Freddie McCall announced Thursday that he is recovering from a “life saving” surgery that was performed Saturday.
McCall said he suffered a series of mini-strokes Saturday afternoon and underwent emergency surgery to correct a major blockage to his brain.
The mayor is now back on his feet, working a light schedule handling town business. “I’m thankful to be here,” McCall said Thursday afternoon. “I thank the Lord.”
Learn About Fall And Winter Vegetable Gardening
September 5, 2014
Escambia Extension is offering a hands-on workshop for novice gardeners to learn the basics of fall and winter vegetable gardening. The entire class will be outside utilizing raised beds and in ground planting areas. Participants will be learning about soil preparation, seeding and transplanting techniques, vegetable thinning, and general care until harvest.
The class size is limited to 20 people. Preregistration is required by September 17 by emailing bbolles@ufl.edu or calling (850) 475-5230.
License-Free Saltwater Fishing Saturday In Florida
September 5, 2014
Florida residents and visitors are invited to participate in a saltwater license-free fishing day this Saturday, when the requirement to have a recreational saltwater fishing license is waived. All other regulations such as seasons, size limits and bag limits still apply on these license free days.
““The license-free fishing day is a great opportunity for families to enjoy the incredible saltwater fishing opportunities that Florida has to offer. Florida is the fishing capital of the world and a license-free day is the perfect opportunity to try fishing for the first time. I hope Florida’s families use this Saturday to enjoy our waters and great weather while catching some fish,” said Gov. Rick Scott.
Another license-free saltwater fishing day is set for the first Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 29). The first Saturday and Sunday in April (April 4-5, 2015) are the next license-free freshwater fishing days.
Camp Fire Century Presented With Community Pride Award
September 5, 2014
The Century Chamber of Commerce has named the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center as the winner of the September Community Pride Award. The award was presented Thursday during at at-large chamber meeting at Lake Stone.
Pictured: Century Chamber President Don Ripley, Camp Fire Century Director Pamila Townson and Camp Fire Gulf Wind Council Director La-Vonne Haven. NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
BP Found ‘Grossly Negligent’ In Gulf Oil Spill
September 5, 2014
BP now stands to pay up to $17 billion in Clean Water Act fines after a judge on Thursday ruled the oil company was “grossly negligent” in its conduct leading up to the Deepwater Horizon explosion in 2010.
While the judge’s decision did not surprise groups such as the Environmental Defense Fund, the swiftness of the decision did, said Steve Cochran, director of the fund’s Mississippi River Restoration Project.
“People did not expect this to occur until sometime next year,” he said. “For those of us who work on restoration, the main thing we’re interested in is, ‘Let’s get this settled,’ so that the resources can flow to places like Florida.”
The finding of “gross negligence” means BP is liable for fines under the Clean Water Act of up to four times the established penalty per barrel of oil spilled. A trial is to begin in January to establish how much was spilled; the federal government estimates more than 4 million barrels, while BP insists the total is a little more than half that amount.
Ultimately, much of the money will go into the Gulf Restoration Fund, established by Congress to help manage the fines collected for projects to help repair damage from the oil spill. Beyond that, Cochran said, the judge’s ruling sends a clear message to other offshore drilling operations.
“This case says very clearly at this point, ‘If you don’t take your responsibility seriously, and you let something like this happen, you’re going to pay dearly for it,’ ” Cochran said.
Cochran and others said the ruling also increases the company’s liability for civil penalties under the Clean Water Act. BP said it strongly disagrees with the decision issued Thursday and will immediately appeal. The two other parties involved in the spill, Halliburton and Transocean, were ruled to be “negligent.”
by The Florida News Connection
Sports Association Launches New Local Running Info Website
September 5, 2014
A new website has been launched as a resource for the running community in Pensacola and surrounding areas.
RunningPensacola.com seeks to provide a one stop listing of all local running and endurance events, including 5Ks, 10Ks, 15Ks, half and full marathons, mud and obstacle runs, swims, bike rides/events, and tri and duathlons.
In addition to local residents looking for a run, the site is the perfect resource for sports tourists looking for a destination run or endurance event. Leisure or business travelers can also benefit from the site if they are visiting the Pensacola area and want to participate in an event while they are here.
Race directors can submit their events for posting free of charge. Visitors will be able to see the name of the event, date, event summary, and links to its website and Facebook page.
For more information or questions, visit the website at www.runningpensacola.com or call the Pensacola Sports Association office at 850-434-2800.