As the number of medical marijuana patients in Florida grows, Republican lawmakers in Tallahassee are once again exploring a possible cap on the level of euphoria-inducing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in medical marijuana.
Sally Peebles, a partner with Vicente Sederberg and a member of the state’s Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee, said Wednesday two issues are of concern now: The high price of medical marijuana and dispensaries running out of the high-demand product.
Peebles said on First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross that a cap on THC would worsen those issues.
“Certain patients simply just need higher THC levels to be provided relief from their symptoms. By creating a cap on THC, that same patient is going to have to go out and purchase more product to get the same relief.”
Peebles says limiting THC to 10% will require cultivators to destroy their current genetics or grow plants in a way that will stunt their development, which will result in less medical marijuana being available.
A similar push to cap THC failed in the Florida Legislature last year.
The entire interview with Peebles can be heard on WJCT News' First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross, which encores at 8 p.m. Wednesday on WJCT News 89.9.
Michelle Corum can be reached at mcorum@wjct.org, 904-358-6308 or on Twitter at @MCorumonME.
Photo used under Creative Commons license.
