Credit: Photo via Adobe Images

Credit: Photo via Adobe Images
The Florida Senate voted overwhelmingly to repeal the state's ban on smokable medical marijuana Thursday afternoon. The bill passed the Senate 34-4, with opposition from Sens. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville; Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze; George Gainer, R-Panama City; and Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater. 

The proposed measure allows patient to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana for smoking every 35 days and bans smoking the prescribed cannabis in public.

The bill also lets terminally ill children smoke medical marijuana, as long as they have approval from a second doctor.  The bill comes nearly three years after Florida voters first approved medical marijuana in 2016. State lawmakers banned smoking medical marijuana when they adopted rules for implementing the amendment in 2017. 

The ban on smokable medical marijuana was challenged in court, and a state judge ultimately ruled it was unconstitutional. Former Gov. Rick Scott's administration challenged this ruling, but after Gov. Ron DeSantis took office, he promised to drop the appeal unless Florida lawmakers eliminated the ban. 

Stay on top of Tampa Bay news and views. Sign up for our weekly newsletters.