The woman at the helm of the state office that's legalizing some strains of medical cannabis is leaving the Department of Health to work for Gov. Rick Scott.
Pattricia Nelson will no longer be the director of the Office of Compassionate Use, Department of Health spokeswoman Tiffany Cowie confirmed. She'll be working for Scott's Office of Policy and Budget.
The shakeup comes in the middle of a critical time for the Office of Compassionate Use, which was tasked by lawmakers with the regulation of marijuana strains that are low in high-causing THC but helpful to patients battling cancer and epilepsy. Earlier this month, nurseries interested in growing and producing the drug applied for one of five licenses to do so. Nelson was one of three panelists reviewing and approving applications.
State health officials are actively looking for a replacement, said Cowie.
"As we transition, the department remains committed to getting this product to children with intractable epilepsy and people with advanced cancer as safely and quickly as possible," she wrote in a statement. "No delays are anticipated as a result of this transition."
Prior to heading up the Office of Compassionate Use, Nelson worked in the governor's office during Scott's first term as deputy director for the Office of Accountability and Regulatory Reform, according to her LinkedIn.
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