Florida now officially recognizes marijuana as a substance with medical benefits… well, at least in some very narrow cases. As expected, Gov. Rick Scott signed the “Charlotte’s Web” bill into law today. The bill allows certain strains of non-euphoric marijuana tincture to be used to treat a very small list of maladies, including childhood epilepsy.
“As a father and grandfather, you never want to see kids suffer,” the governor said in a statement. “The approval of Charlotte’s Web will ensure that children in Florida who suffer from seizures and other debilitating illnesses will have the medication needed to improve their quality of life.”
Of course, cynics might point out that Scott’s signing of the bill may have just as much to do with his opposition to a wider medical marijuana policy in Florida as it does children.

We’re five months away from the November elections, but already the medical marijuana battle in Florida is ramping up.
Polls show that support for Florida’s Amendment 2 – which would legalize cannabis for certain qualifying medical conditions -has anywhere between 60 and 88 percent support. But backers say that isn’t enough to coast to victory. According to Florida law, constitutional amendments proposed in ballot measures have to pass with 60 percent of the vote.