Revoking Green Rights: Florida Limits Medical Marijuana in Rehab Centers

Last week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law S.B. 210, which restricts the use of medical marijuana in state-licensed substance abuse treatment programs and sober living facilities. Effective from 2024, the law will require such facilities to prohibit the use of alcohol, marijuana, illegal drugs, and unprescribed prescription medications. This includes marijuana certified for medical use by a qualified physician. Despite controversies surrounding the use of marijuana in addiction treatment facilities, studies have shown that it can alleviate symptoms of opioid addiction. This new legislation narrows the medical marijuana eligibility that was expanded by a law passed in 2016, which included a variety of conditions such as Crohn’s disease and post-traumatic stress disorder. Opinions vary on the issue, with some suggesting that the decision to allow or not allow the use of marijuana should be left to individual medical professionals rather than the state.

Main Takeaways:

1. Florida has passed a law limiting the use of medical marijuana in state-licensed treatment and sober living facilities.
2. The law will take effect in 2024, and it prohibits the use of all alcohol, marijuana, illegal drugs, and non-prescribed prescription medications in these facilities.
3. The law is controversial because some studies suggest that medical marijuana can help alleviate symptoms of opioid addiction.
4. The legislation is a step back from the 2016 expansion of the state’s medical marijuana program, which allowed use for a variety of medical conditions.
5. Critics argue that the decision on whether to permit marijuana use in treatment should be left to individual medical professionals, not the state.