NOW WHAT ? Scott wants delay to avoid "chaos and uncertainty" in upcoming Florida elections. Translation: he wants to avoid being sent to the politician's retirement home by people he and his clemency board have systematically disenfranchised for years. Jamaican Jerk and U-Haul from non-traditional partnership, from page 1
Apr <strong>20</strong> - 26, <strong><strong>20</strong>18</strong> | Orlando Advocate 3 This is Sunday Dinner. It’s when we all come together to enjoy really good food. And each other. Get recipes at publix.com/sunday-dinners. Court Lifts Stay, Allows Florida Patient to Grow Own Marijuana Proposed Constitutional Amendment Could Set Up Competing Education System in Florida by Jake Stofan by Jake Stofan TALLAHASSEE, FL - A circuit court judge has lifted a stay preventing a Tampa night club owner from growing his own marijuana. Leon County Circuit Judge Karen Gievers, ruling from the bench Tuesday, lifted an automatic delay that had been triggered last week when the Florida Department of Health appealed her decision allowing Redner, 77, to grow his own cannabis for juicing. Last week a circuit court judge ruled a state law prohibiting Tampa Night Club Owner Joe Redner from growing his own plants violated his constitutional right to use medical marijuana. The state appealed, automatically putting that ruling on hold. Back in court, Redner’s lawyers argued halting his treatment puts his health at risk. “Mr. Redner wants to remain in remission. Everyday he misses, we just can’t get that back,” said Redner’s Attorney, Luke Lirot. Redner’s doctor ordered a juicing treatment that uses live marijuana plants to prevent a relapse of stage 4 lung cancer, according to court documents. Emulsification, or juicing, of the “biomass of the marijuana plant” was determined to be “the most effective way” for Redner “to get the benefit of medical marijuana,” according to Gievers’ decision last week. The state argued the stay should stay in place because Redner isn’t currently growing marijuana so he isn’t losing anything. “Mr. Redner has never been receiving the treatment that he is trying to get with this order,” said Department of Health Attorney, Jason Gonzalz. The judge sided with Redner a second time. “There really shouldn’t be any obstacles to doing this,” said Lirot. “It’s that sacred relationship between a doctor and a patient that the department has put its foot into without any right.” The state will again seek to put the ruling on hold. This ruling does not allow anyone other than Redner to grow marijuana. But the ruling could play a role in other pending cases, including John Morgan’s ‘NoSmoke is a Joke’ lawsuit. “I think that this court will find that limiting smoking marijuana is also an unconstitutional deprivation of the plain language of amendment 2,” said Lirot. If it stands, the ruing would open the door for other patients to seek the same treatment. The suit now heads to the 1st District Court of Appeal, but a final decision will likely have to come from the State Supreme Court. TALLAHASSEE, FL - Education advocates are speaking out against a proposed constitutional amendment passed by the Constitution Revision Commission Monday. In the state capital there’s an ongoing debate between school board members, over whether to allow two new charter schools to move in. “We don’t believe there’s a need. We believe it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars,” said Leon County School Superintendent Rocky Hanna. If the proposed constitutional amendment passes that decision could be put in the hands of a state agency, not local elected officials. Hanna says the proposal is hidden in the amendment, which also includes requiring civics education and a 6-year term limit on school board members. “Oh by the way we’re also looking to take away local control these charter decisions at the state level as opposed to the local school level,” said Hanna. The amendment would authorize the creation of a state entity that could authorize the creation of new schools. It would operate separate from the current school districts. “Well the question then of course of concern is if you have two systems how do we know that each will be funded equitably,” said State Senator and head of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents Bill Montford. The existing public education system would have to share state funding with the new one, possibly thinning out an already tight budget. “We’re going to have to start looking at eliminating programs, especially those in art, music, science, mental health counselors and all the things we need to provide Superintendent Rocky Hanna for the good of the whole,” said Hanna. Because the change would be in the constitution, it would be difficult to undo. “They’re trying to amend the constitution to defund and have for the next <strong>20</strong> years a policy that will gut our public school systems,” said Fredrick Ingram, Vice President of the Florida Education Association. Some members of the Constitution revision commission tried to unbundle the proposals, but it failed. The amendment will need 60% voter approval come November to pass.
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