Gulf Breeze mom weighs in on Charlotte's Web ruling


  • November 16, 2014
  • /   Mollye Barrows
  • /   early-learning
Now that state health regulators have to rewrite the rules for implementing Florida’s medicinal marijuana law, the Gulf Breeze family who fought to make it legal has mixed feelings about the court’s decision. It could delay their access to the medicinal oil. “Obviously I want it now for RayAnn,” said her mother Holley Moseley. “But I want it to succeed and I want it to be done the right way. The Mosleys led the fight to get the “Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act,” signed into law earlier this year. It authorizes the use of a special strain called Charlotte’s Web, a non-euphoric medicinal cannabis that is high in cannabidiol and low in THC. The Moseleys 11-year-old daughter, RayAnn, has epilepsy and suffers from constant seizures and heavy medications that make it hard for her to live a normal life. Her story inspired Florida lawmakers to pass the bill during the 2014 legislative session. The Florida Department of Health is charged with overseeing how the law is implemented, but their initial plan to use a lottery system to determine who will grow and distribute medical marijuana was challenged in court, putting plans to grow it on hold. The administrative law judge who heard the case agreed the random selection of growers through a lottery is not a good way to provide a medicinal product. Now the DOH has to rewrite their rules using a qualitative scoring process, which essentially starts the process over. While the Moseleys are tired of waiting, they and other medicinal marijuana advocates, say it’s important the rules that govern who grows and distributes it are made with the best of interest of patients in mind. “You’re making it into a medicine that will be used to treat children in Florida,” said Moseley. It needs to be held to high quality standards.” The DOH has not yet commented on the court’s ruling. They could appeal it or move forward with making new rules. According to the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act, doctors can order a cannabis oil to treat seizure patients starting Jan. 1, but none of the five licenses authorized by the act have been awarded. The Moseleys, among others, hope the state will soon implement a practical plan to provide it. “I’m glad we got answers and we can move forward with it.” said Moseley. “It’s a step in the right direction.”
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