Medical-marijuana, then and now, a 2014-16 comparison of the FL amendments

@MarcACaputo

People United for Medical Marijuana has drafted a 2016 proposed constitutional amendment that makes numerous changes to its 2014 proposal. Petition-gathering begins Monday (more here). Here's a side-by-side look at the differences in wording between the two proposals:

2016 Title: Use of Marijuana for Debilitating Medical Conditions

2014 Title: Use of Marijuana for Certain Medical Conditions

2016: Does not immunize violations of federal law or any non-medical use, possession or production of marijuana.
2014: Does not authorize violations of federal law or any non-medical use, possession or production of marijuana.

2016: Allows medical use of marijuana for individuals with debilitating medical conditions as determined by a licensed Florida physician.
2014: Allows the medical use of marijuana for individuals with debilitating diseases as determined by a licensed Florida physician.

2016: A physician shall not be subject to criminal or civil liability or sanctions under Florida law solely for issuing a physician certification with reasonable care to a person diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition in compliance with this section.
2014: A physician licensed in Florida shall not be subject to criminal or civil liability or sanctions under Florida law for issuing a physician certification to a person diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition in a manner consistent with this section.

2016: “Debilitating Medical Condition” means cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or other debilitating medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to those enumerated, and for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient.
2014: “Debilitating Medical Condition” means cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis or other conditions for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient.

2016: “Marijuana” has the meaning given cannabis in Section 893.02(3), Florida Statutes (2014), and, in addition, “Low-THC cannabis” as defined in Section 381.986(1)(b), Florida Statutes (2014), shall also be included in the meaning of the term “marijuana.”
2014: “Marijuana” has the meaning given cannabis in Section 893.02(3), Florida Statutes (2013).

2016: “Medical use” means the acquisition, possession, use, delivery, transfer, or administration of an amount of marijuana not in conflict with Department rules, or of related supplies by a qualifying patient or caregiver for use by the caregiver’s designated qualifying patient for the treatment of a debilitating medical condition.
2014: “Medical use” means the acquisition, possession, use, delivery, transfer, or administration of marijuana or related supplies by a qualifying patient or personal caregiver for use by a qualifying patient for the treatment of a debilitating medical condition.

2016: “Caregiver” means a person who is at least twenty-one (21) years old who has agreed to assist with a qualifying patient's medical use of marijuana and has qualified for and obtained a caregiver identification card issued by the Department. The Department may limit the number of qualifying patients a caregiver may assist at one time and the number of caregivers that a qualifying patient may have at one time. Caregivers are prohibited from consuming marijuana obtained for medical use by the qualifying patient.
2014: “Personal caregiver” means a person who is at least twenty-one (21) years old who has agreed to assist with a qualifying patient's medical use of marijuana and has a caregiver identification card issued by the Department. A personal caregiver may assist no more than five (5) qualifying patients at one time. An employee of a hospice provider, nursing, or medical facility may serve as a personal caregiver to more than five (5) qualifying patients as permitted by the Department. Personal caregivers are prohibited from consuming marijuana obtained for the personal, medical use by the qualifying patient.

2016: “Physician” means a person who is licensed to practice medicine in Florida.
2014: “Physician” means a physician who is licensed in Florida.

2016: In order for a physician certification to be issued to a minor, a parent or legal guardian of the minor must consent in writing.
2014: No such language

2016: Nothing in this section allows for a violation of any law other than for conduct in compliance with the provisions of this section.
2014: No such language

2016: Nothing in this section shall affect or repeal laws relating to non-medical use, possession, production, or sale of marijuana.
2014: Nothing in this section shall affect laws relating to non-medical use, possession, production or sale of marijuana.

2016: Nothing in this section authorizes the use of medical marijuana by anyone other than a qualifying patient.
2014: Nothing in this section authorizes the use of medical marijuana by anyone other than a qualifying patient.

2016: Nothing in this section shall permit the operation of any vehicle, aircraft, train or boat while under the influence of marijuana.
2014: Nothing in this section allows the operation of a motor vehicle, boat, or aircraft while under the influence of marijuana.

2016: Nothing in this section requires the violation of federal law or purports to give immunity under federal law.
2014: Nothing in this law section requires the violation of federal law or purports to give immunity under federal law.

2016: Nothing in this section shall require any accommodation of any on-site medical use of marijuana in any correctional institution or detention facility or place of education or employment, or of smoking medical marijuana in any public place.
2014: Nothing in this section shall require any accommodation of any on-site medical use of marijuana in any place of education or employment, or of smoking medical marijuana in any public place.

2016: Nothing in this section shall require any health insurance provider or any government agency or authority to reimburse any person for expenses related to the medical use of marijuana.
2014: Nothing in this section shall require any health insurance provider or any government agency or authority to reimburse any person for expenses related to the medical use of marijuana.

2016: Nothing in this section shall affect or repeal laws relating to negligence or professional malpractice on the part of a qualified patient, caregiver, physician, MMTC, or its agents or employees.
2014: No such language

2016: Procedures for the issuance and annual renewal of qualifying patient identification cards to people with physician certifications and standards for renewal of such identification cards. Before issuing an identification card to a minor, the Department must receive written consent from the minor’s parent or legal guardian, in addition to the physician certification.
2014: Procedures for the issuance of qualifying patient identification cards to people with physician certifications, and standards for the renewal of such identification cards.

2016: Procedures establishing qualifications and standards for caregivers, including conducting appropriate background checks, and procedures for the issuance and annual renewal of caregiver identification cards.
2014: Procedures for the issuance of personal caregiver identification cards to persons qualified to assist with a qualifying patient’s medical use of marijuana, and standards for the renewal of such identification cards.

2016 Title: Use of Marijuana for Debilitating Medical Conditions

2014 Title: Use of Marijuana for Certain Medical Conditions

2016: Does not immunize violations of federal law or any non-medical use, possession or production of marijuana.
2014: Does not authorize violations of federal law or any non-medical use, possession or production of marijuana.

2016: Allows medical use of marijuana for individuals with debilitating medical conditions as determined by a licensed Florida physician.
2014: Allows the medical use of marijuana for individuals with debilitating diseases as determined by a licensed Florida physician.

2016: A physician shall not be subject to criminal or civil liability or sanctions under Florida law solely for issuing a physician certification with reasonable care to a person diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition in compliance with this section.
2014: A physician licensed in Florida shall not be subject to criminal or civil liability or sanctions under Florida law for issuing a physician certification to a person diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition in a manner consistent with this section.

2016: “Debilitating Medical Condition” means cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or other debilitating medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to those enumerated, and for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient.
2014: “Debilitating Medical Condition” means cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis or other conditions for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient.

2016: “Marijuana” has the meaning given cannabis in Section 893.02(3), Florida Statutes (2014), and, in addition, “Low-THC cannabis” as defined in Section 381.986(1)(b), Florida Statutes (2014), shall also be included in the meaning of the term “marijuana.”
2014: “Marijuana” has the meaning given cannabis in Section 893.02(3), Florida Statutes (2013).

2016: “Medical use” means the acquisition, possession, use, delivery, transfer, or administration of an amount of marijuana not in conflict with Department rules, or of related supplies by a qualifying patient or caregiver for use by the caregiver’s designated qualifying patient for the treatment of a debilitating medical condition.
2014: “Medical use” means the acquisition, possession, use, delivery, transfer, or administration of marijuana or related supplies by a qualifying patient or personal caregiver for use by a qualifying patient for the treatment of a debilitating medical condition.

2016: “Caregiver” means a person who is at least twenty-one (21) years old who has agreed to assist with a qualifying patient's medical use of marijuana and has qualified for and obtained a caregiver identification card issued by the Department. The Department may limit the number of qualifying patients a caregiver may assist at one time and the number of caregivers that a qualifying patient may have at one time. Caregivers are prohibited from consuming marijuana obtained for medical use by the qualifying patient.
2014: “Personal caregiver” means a person who is at least twenty-one (21) years old who has agreed to assist with a qualifying patient's medical use of marijuana and has a caregiver identification card issued by the Department. A personal caregiver may assist no more than five (5) qualifying patients at one time. An employee of a hospice provider, nursing, or medical facility may serve as a personal caregiver to more than five (5) qualifying patients as permitted by the Department. Personal caregivers are prohibited from consuming marijuana obtained for the personal, medical use by the qualifying patient.

2016: “Physician” means a person who is licensed to practice medicine in Florida.
2014: “Physician” means a physician who is licensed in Florida.

2016: In order for a physician certification to be issued to a minor, a parent or legal guardian of the minor must consent in writing.
2014: No such language

2016: Nothing in this section allows for a violation of any law other than for conduct in compliance with the provisions of this section.
2014: No such language

2016: Nothing in this section shall affect or repeal laws relating to non-medical use, possession, production, or sale of marijuana.
2014: Nothing in this section shall affect laws relating to non-medical use, possession, production or sale of marijuana.

2016: Nothing in this section authorizes the use of medical marijuana by anyone other than a qualifying patient.
2014: Nothing in this section authorizes the use of medical marijuana by anyone other than a qualifying patient.

2016: Nothing in this section shall permit the operation of any vehicle, aircraft, train or boat while under the influence of marijuana.
2014: Nothing in this section allows the operation of a motor vehicle, boat, or aircraft while under the influence of marijuana.

2016: Nothing in this section requires the violation of federal law or purports to give immunity under federal law.
2014: Nothing in this law section requires the violation of federal law or purports to give immunity under federal law.

2016: Nothing in this section shall require any accommodation of any on-site medical use of marijuana in any correctional institution or detention facility or place of education or employment, or of smoking medical marijuana in any public place.
2014: Nothing in this section shall require any accommodation of any on-site medical use of marijuana in any place of education or employment, or of smoking medical marijuana in any public place.

2016: Nothing in this section shall require any health insurance provider or any government agency or authority to reimburse any person for expenses related to the medical use of marijuana.
2014: Nothing in this section shall require any health insurance provider or any government agency or authority to reimburse any person for expenses related to the medical use of marijuana.

2016: Nothing in this section shall affect or repeal laws relating to negligence or professional malpractice on the part of a qualified patient, caregiver, physician, MMTC, or its agents or employees.
2014: No such language

2016: Procedures for the issuance and annual renewal of qualifying patient identification cards to people with physician certifications and standards for renewal of such identification cards. Before issuing an identification card to a minor, the Department must receive written consent from the minor’s parent or legal guardian, in addition to the physician certification.
2014: Procedures for the issuance of qualifying patient identification cards to people with physician certifications, and standards for the renewal of such identification cards.

2016: Procedures establishing qualifications and standards for caregivers, including conducting appropriate background checks, and procedures for the issuance and annual renewal of caregiver identification cards.
2014: Procedures for the issuance of personal caregiver identification cards to persons qualified to assist with a qualifying patient’s medical use of marijuana, and standards for the renewal of such identification cards.