Florida Activists Abandon Proposal for Home Cultivation of Medical Cannabis

The effort to introduce an initiative that would afford medical cannabis patients the legal authority to cultivate cannabis plants within the confines of their residences has formally concluded. Unfortunately, despite dedicated advocacy and persistent campaigning, the initiative has encountered a significant challenge: it failed to amass the necessary number of signatures essential for its progression to the next stage of the legislative process.

The advocates of a proposed citizen-initiated measure, aimed at providing medical cannabis patients in Florida the ability to grow cannabis in their residences, have opted to halt their campaign to secure a position on the 2024 general election ballot. The group supporting home cultivation chose to withdraw their petition for the initiative by the end of the previous month, citing their inability to amass the requisite number of signatures necessary for ballot eligibility.

Established in December 2022 by cannabis activist Moriah Barnhart, the organization known as Wise and Free had taken up the cause of advocating for the medical cannabis home cultivation initiative, to present it to the public for consideration. Nonetheless, Barnhart has emphasized the formidable challenges faced during this endeavor, largely stemming from the implementation of new regulations and fees associated with proposed ballot initiatives, a legislative action attributed to Republican lawmakers back in 2019.

A prevailing sentiment among supporters is that these legislative modifications have progressively raised the bar for the initiative process, making it substantially more arduous. Consequently, this has created an asymmetrical playing field, with citizens and grassroots movements grappling with additional hurdles in contrast to major corporations and conglomerates. The latter entities appear to find it more attainable to realize their objectives by pursuing constitutional amendments, further exacerbating the disparities in navigating a multifaceted and increasingly restrictive regulatory environment, as experienced by proponents of initiatives like home cultivation.

Campaign Encountered Money Problems

Barnhart elaborated on the various challenges that the campaign encountered during its efforts. One notable issue was the struggle to enlist an adequate number of volunteers to support the cause effectively. Moreover, the initiative’s proponents faced a substantial financial shortfall, having raised approximately $4,000 in funds. This amount proved woefully insufficient to cover the expenses associated with hiring professionals and staff required to collect and submit the nearly 900,000 signatures essential for securing a place on the ballot for the home cultivation initiative.

As financial pressures mounted, Wise and Free Florida found itself grappling with a growing debt burden. Faced with the prospect of incurring astronomical fees for late petition submissions, Moriah Barnhart, the driving force behind the initiative, faced an agonizing decision. In the absence of sufficient donations to offset these mounting expenditures, let alone cover additional costs, she made the difficult choice to withdraw the initiative petition, effectively bringing an end to the campaign’s aspirations for the 2024 election.

Reflecting on this decision, Barnhart expressed her concerns about the evolving landscape of Florida’s political system. She contended that the changing regulations and financial barriers effectively favor billion-dollar corporations and conglomerates, making it increasingly challenging for grassroots movements and ordinary citizens to influence state law.

Moriah Barnhart’s journey into cannabis activism was deeply personal, stemming from her daughter Dahlia’s diagnosis of brain cancer 13 years ago. Facing grim prospects for Dahlia’s survival, Moriah turned to cannabis medication, which had a profoundly positive impact on her daughter’s quality of life. Reflecting upon the profound impact of cannabis, Moriah recounted the transformative effects on her daughter Dahlia’s life. She emphasized that Dahlia’s initial experience with cannabis marked a pivotal moment, as it enabled her to achieve uninterrupted sleep for the first time in her entire life. Subsequently, in the days that followed, Dahlia exhibited notable improvements in her overall well-being. Her ability to walk, communicate, experience joy, and engage in recreational activities, which had previously been compromised by her medical condition, saw significant enhancements.

In response to her daughter’s remarkable recovery, Moriah Barnhart co-founded the nonprofit organization Cannamoms in 2013. The organization’s mission was to educate the public about the therapeutic benefits of cannabis, drawing from their own experiences as a testament to the potential of this plant as a source of healing and hope. Presently, Moriah Barnhart’s commitment to advocacy remains steadfast, driven by her profoundly personal experiences and the substantial positive influence that cannabis has exerted on her daughter’s existence.

Proposal for Recreational Use Awaiting Approval

In addition to the home cultivation initiative’s withdrawal, a distinct proposal advocating the legalization of adult-use cannabis, supported by Trulieve, Florida’s largest medical cannabis provider, is presently undergoing review by the state Supreme Court. Should this initiative successfully withstand rigorous judicial examination, it will be placed on the ballot for the forthcoming general election scheduled for the subsequent year.

Moriah Barnhart, the proponent of the medical cannabis home cultivation initiative, expresses concerns that the potential success of the recreational cannabis initiative could negatively impact Florida’s medical cannabis program. Her apprehension stems from the belief that, if adult-use cannabis becomes legal, dispensaries may prioritize high-THC products tailored to recreational consumers primarily seeking intoxication. This shift in focus might lead to reduced availability of low-THC products and those containing THC and CBD, which are favored by numerous medical patients.

To illustrate her point, Barnhart draws parallels with Oregon, Washington, and California, highlighting that these states legalized medical cannabis before embracing recreational cannabis. Subsequently, after the legalization of recreational cannabis, the range of products suitable for medical cannabis patients decreased. However, she points out that these states allow patients to cultivate cannabis at home, enabling them to grow strains that best cater to their unique medical requirements.

Barnhart emphasizes the importance of botanical medicines being as personalized as possible, a level of customization that large corporations may not be able to provide. She expresses concerns that such corporations might not prioritize small, vulnerable demographic groups in need of personalized medicine and may be reluctant to cater to those who prefer cultivating their cannabis.

Following the home cultivation initiative’s failure, Barnhart hopes that a major company like Trulieve will consider supporting a new home cultivation initiative as a gesture of goodwill toward patients. Trulieve is a major proponent of the adult-use cannabis proposal, having contributed nearly the entire $39.5 million invested in the initiative campaign.

Steve Vancore, a spokesperson for Trulieve, suggests that the company’s support for a future home cultivation initiative is a possibility.

“In the near term, Trulieve is focused on supporting the passage and implementation of the Smart & Safe Florida initiative,” Vancore noted in an email to the Miami New Times.

However, he also added, “Trulieve has supported home-grow initiatives in Florida in the past and expects they will continue to do so in the future.”