Charlotte's Web: An Update

I hope that you are all doing well. Attached a link to an article titled " Use of medical marijuana could be months away" highlighting the difficulties of writing the rules governing the growth, production, sale and use of a cannabis extract called 'Charlotte's Web." A series of public workshops and hearings last summer resulted in controversial proposed state regulations, which were challenged in court, and on November 14th an administrative law judge struck down 13 of the rules prepared by state health officials. Miami based Costa Farms, the Florida Medical Cannabis Association and others had challenged the Health Department's plan to use a lottery to help license the five agricultural nurseries that would grow and distribute the medical marijuana strain designated to treat intractable seizures and OTHER chronic medical conditions. Judge David Watkins agreed that the lottery idea was "vague" and "arbitrary." Furthermore, he endorsed the claim by critics that it could spur unqualified growers to take a chance on getting selected only because they wanted to participate in the emerging lucrative pot business bonanza. During contentious public hearings Health Department officials argued that the lottery approach was needed to avoid lengthy legal fights over how nurseries were to be selected. The judge also threw out a Health Department provision that would have nurseries to pair with other companies to become eligible for a license. That decision precluded for the time being the efforts of "investors" and other gold diggers to elbow their way into this golden business. Meanwhile, the Health Department reported that at least eight doctors statewide have taken a doctor-training program and now are qualified to certify that patients may use the marijuana extract. Would like to know how many of those are addiction specialists. The office also has created a computer registry to track the program. Well, more tho be reported and I will keep you posted about the progress in that matter. Wish you all a Happy New Year. Yours Bernd