Medical marijuana passes: What's next?

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Florida voters made it clear in 2016 that they support medical marijuana.

Amendment 2 passed Tuesday night with 71 percent of voters approving the measure to legalize medical marijuana.

.@JohnMorganESQ says he will not open a dispensary or a grow facility... #WFTV #MedicalMarijuana

— Karla Ray (@KRayWFTV) November 9, 2016

The Florida Legislature passed two years ago Charlotte’s Web, a liquid form of THC, to treat patients who have epilepsy, Lou Gehrig’s disease and some cancers.

Prominent attorney John Morgan was a major supporter vocally and financially to get medical marijuana passed on Election Day. He spent more than $8 million of his own money to push for the legalization of medical marijuana.

"2 yrs later we were smarter, better prepared... from the battle we lost early on we were ultimately going to win the war."- @JohnMorganESQ pic.twitter.com/FDAhXgWXmf

— Karla Ray (@KRayWFTV) November 9, 2016

Orlando has only one approved medical marijuana dispensary that’s currently under construction.

Most local governments have moratoriums in place until the Legislature can write its rules on how medical marijuana will be distributed.

Lawmakers have until July 2017 to pass regulations with the Florida Department of Health. The state has until October 2017 to begin to register growers, dispensaries and patients.

“It's going to be a negotiation process, but I think it will happen, and I think both parties are on board to make that happen,” said Ben Pollara, with United for Care.

Pollara told Eyewitness News that state legislators in the House and Senate have both agreed to bring a plan forward, but those opposed to Amendment 2 plan to push lawmakers for restrictions on potency, availability and a ban on “pot candy.”

“There should be a cap on the amount of THC that's allowed in these products. I would ask there's a cap to the amount that's to be sold,” said Jessica Spencer, the policy director for “No on 2.”

"My giving has always been about dignity, food, water, shelter, medicine and human dignity," Morgan said. "There is a world out there in Florida. We estimated 400,000 to 500,000 really, really sick people who will benefit day one."

Now that medical marijuana has been approved, the conversation has already shifted to recreational marijuana use being approved.

“It will be legal in Florida. I think it will be sooner rather than later,” Morgan said.

California, Nevada, Maine and Massachusetts approved Tuesday night the use of recreational marijuana.

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