FL S0852

Repeals the existing compassionate use low-THC cannabis law and creates the Florida Medical Marijuana Act, authorizing medical marijuana for patients with cancer, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, ALS, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, paraplegia, quadriplegia, terminal illness, or conditions causing severe pain, nausea, seizures, or muscle spasms

Establishes a licensing system with cultivation licenses (up to $50,000), processing licenses (up to $50,000), cultivation and processing licenses (up to $100,000), and retail licenses (up to $10,000), with the Department of Health required to begin issuing licenses by March 1, 2017

Limits retail facilities to one per 50,000 county residents and prohibits locations within 1,000 feet of schools, child care facilities, or substance abuse treatment providers; allows counties and municipalities to ban retail facilities by ordinance but not deliveries to patients

Requires physicians to complete an 8-hour training course before recommending medical marijuana and prohibits physicians with financial interests in marijuana businesses from certifying patients; patients under 21 require certification from two physicians

Subjects all medical marijuana sales to state sales tax under Chapter 212, with proceeds deposited into the Education/General Student and Other Fees Trust Fund for research on medical marijuana safety and efficacy