The State of Marijuana in Tallahassee
Florida and Floridians are being pulled in many different directions currently when it comes to marijuana. Medical marijuana is currently legal in Florida, but recreational marijuana is not. While dispensaries like Trulieve, Surterra, Grow Healthy, and others have been built around Tallahassee, not everyone can use their services.
What is “medical marijuana”?
Marijuana is legal with an authorization from your physician. If your physician finds that a patient has a condition which indicates marijuana use for easement of symptoms or treatment, then that physician has the power to grant a patient a marijuana card, which will allow the patient to access medical marijuana, made legal in Florida.
What is the difference between medical marijuana and CBD?
Marijuana is made from the cannabis sativa plant and contains THC, the chemical that produces a sensation of euphoria or “high.” CBD stands for cannabidiol – it is a product derived from hemp, which is a cousin of the marijuana plant. Hemp is legal in all 50 states and so is CBD. According to Harvard Medical School, “In December 2015, the FDA eased the regulatory requirements to allow researchers to conduct CBD trials. In 2018, the Farm Bill made hemp legal in the United States, making it virtually impossible to keep CBD illegal – that would be like making oranges legal, but keeping orange juice illegal.”
If marijuana is legal, why is there still a problem?
Marijuana is currently only legal at the state level, not the federal level. The Florida legislature has legalized marijuana for medical use only, but since the U.S. Congress has not made marijuana legal, federal enforcement of marijuana policy is zero tolerance. This is especially true of the Department of Transportation. Even though someone may be in possession of a medical marijuana card and visit a legal dispensary like Trulieve or Surterra or others, marijuana use will lead to failing a D.O.T. drug screening.
If a member of the team uses medical marijuana, will we run into problems?
Medical marijuana is legal for medical use in Florida, but not at the federal level. If you have any interaction with a federal agency, if your team are motor carriers or handle heavy equipment, marijuana use, medical or otherwise, is still prohibited.
If your team needs a plan for testing or team education, contact Jet Medical Center® and put our team’s expertise to work for you.
Who is Jet Medical Center®?
Jet Medical Center® is a leading provider of occupational medicine services in the Tallahassee area. We develop, with our client partners, a customized health care plan to fit your companies needs today and into the future.
Our experienced staff of clinicians provide excellent medical care and understand the Worker’s Compensation system and its impact on your company’s financial health. Your employees will have less downtime with less complications reducing overall medical costs.