Education & Advocacy
One year ago today, Dr. Gordon, Patty, and myself opened the doors of the Compassionate Cannabis Clinic in Venice, Florida. January 3, 2017 marked the date that Amendment 2 was enacted into law within the Florida state constitution. Looking back at the events of that first day puts things into amazing perspective for me. We […]
The Chron’s Charity Service Foundation of Naples launched a new patient-centric magazine specifically focused on cannabis called Indo Wellness. The following in-depth profile of Dr. Gordon was written by Victor Espinosa and is reprinted with permission. Dr. Barry Gordon of Venice, Florida is blessed with both knowledge and experience when it comes to emergency medicine. He […]
Today a 72 hour special session begins at the state capitol in Tallahassee. While arguably the hottest button issue in the state since November has been cannabis, that topic likely will not be addressed during the three day marathon of the Florida House and Senate, though Senator Rob Bradley announced his intention late this morning […]
In the 72 hours that have elapsed after the Florida Legislature relegated CS/CS/HB 1397 to the graveyard, much as occurred. Stories of Capital intrigue have abounded, complete with what Sunshine State News has called a “very public breakup” of attorney John Morgan and activist Ben Pollara. The “circle of finger pointing” is in full swing. […]
Yesterday, May 2nd, the Florida House of Representatives advanced HB1397. Panned by patient advocates nationwide, this proposed legislation thwarts the will of the people by creating layers of bureaucratic oversight of the mandated expansion of the state’s medical cannabis program. Nine representatives voted “no” on the measure, but one dissenting vote was curious. Representative Julio […]
In this Florida fight for expanded patient access to medical cannabis, I’ve become pretty intimate with the digestive process of the state legislature. My day routinely consists of checking the Florida Senate and House websites, reading bills and their amendments, checking blogs and watching video. Patient advocacy is something we take very seriously. In order […]
As the final day of the Florida legislature’s 2017 session inches ever closer (May 5), both the House and Senate are advancing bills that would reshape the medical cannabis program statewide. It is of utmost importance that lawmakers craft a program that is geared the interest of the patient; one that allows doctors to qualify […]
On March 14 and 15th, Dr. Gordon and I traveled to the Florida State Capital in Tallahassee. The goal was to meet with as many legislators as possible to lobby on behalf of our patients for a fair medical cannabis program. We were able to meet with a few dozen decision makers, and we learned […]
When we officially opened our doors on January 3, we weren’t sure exactly what to expect. With a 15 year broadcasting, marketing, and management career, I knew the mechanics of administration. But one thing I learned very quickly that I had yet to experience within my working life was a constant variable within healthcare – the patients. […]
Today fills me with a mixture of emotion. Excited, exhausted, and empathetic seem to be proper adjectives. On November 8th, 71.3 percent of Floridians mandated by passage of Constitutional amendment an expansion of the medical marijuana regulations the state legislature enacted in 2014. The very next day, Dr. Gordon and I had a FaceTime conversation […]
