TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida lawmakers added $13.3 million to the agency that regulates medical marijuana but not before expressing frustration for the not-so-smooth rollout of state's law.
Republicans and Democrats on the Joint Legislative Budget Commission lectured Office of Medical Marijuana Use officials on Thursday over the need to come back for the money just 19 days after the new state budget went into effect.
Republican Sen. Rob Bradley said he was frustrated that it's taking so long to get the state's medical marijuana system in place.
Medical marijuana officials asked for the money to review license applications, produce patient identification cards, fight lawsuits and to complete a "seed-to-sale" marijuana tracking system.
Voters overwhelming approved a constitutional amendment authorizing medical marijuana in 2016 and the Legislature approved a law to regulate it in 2017.