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Lawmakers Push Major Changes to Voter-approved Medical Marijuana Expansion

George Hodan / John Miller

As with Florida's Amendment 4, the expansion of medical marijuana in Florida was approved by more than 70 percent of voters in November through Amendment 2. And just as Amendment 4's property tax exemptions for solar power saw rules heaped on the bill as it became law, the process of formalizing the medical marijuana amendment has seen major changes from what voters approved at the polls.

Wednesday at 1 p.m. on Gulf Coast Live, Amendment 2 campaign manager Ben Pollara with Florida for Care explains the intent behind Amendment 2 and how marijuana policy reformers are responding to legislative changes to the amendment in both the House and the Senate.

Also featured on the show are portions of Rep. Ray Rodrigues (R-Estero) comments from the House, explaining his rationale behind changes he's written into HB1397, the House version 

And University of Central Florida political science professor Aubrey Jewett joins the program to explain the process of how Amendments can be reshaped by lawmakers well after voter approval.

Matthew Smith is a reporter and producer of WGCU’s Gulf Coast Live.
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