Florida’s Medical Marijuana ID process to incur more delays

Posted by Sagar Satapathy on October 29, 2017.

For medical marijuana patients in Florida, who are already experiencing long delays in receiving their identification cards, might have to wait longer.

The latest roadblock in the process is a protest filed by a rejected company, challenging the hiring process.  Automated Health Systems has challenged the State’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use following its hiring of Veritec Solutions LLC to process medical pot identification cards.

The challenge could mean delay in the whole process of outsourcing identification cards.

“We are very disappointed in the delay that this will put in outsourcing our card program. We will continue to do everything in our power to process card applications as quickly as possible to serve Florida's patients,” Department of Health spokeswoman Mara Gambinieri said.

Christian Bax, executive director of the Office of Medical Marijuana Use, had earlier informed that 20,000 patients have received their cards against the 46,952 who had registered.

Bax told legislators that cards are being processed in an average of 30 days, while patients claim they have to wait for the cards for anything between 35 to 90 days. 

Besides, the State Office of Medical Marijuana Use is also facing the heat for having missed the deadline to award five medical marijuana treatment licenses by October 3.

Florida had revised the laws after voters had passed a constitutional amendment allowing medical marijuana in November last year. The issuance of identification cards to medical marijuana patients were part of the law which was signed by Governor Rick Scott.

As per the law, the patients who suffered from epilepsy, chronic muscle spasms, cancer and terminal conditions were allowed to receive either low-THC cannabis or full strength medical marijuana. An Amendment 2 had added people with HIV and AIDS, glaucoma, post-traumatic stress disorder, ALS, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and similar conditions to the list of eligible medical pot patients.

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