Read this article by Fox News Orlando about the hearing

Florida Cannabis Action Network immediate-past president is still using her influence to help patients. On January 8, 2019 the District Court of Appeals heard arguments in the case of the Department of Health vs. People United for Medical Marijuana, Cathy Jordan, United for Care, etal.

Cathy led our efforts to pass legislation to allow safe, legal access for patients. She was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease in 1986. In 1989, she discovered cannabis and credits the cannabis with her survival. Cathy was an active part of the 2012-2016 legislative sessions where she fought against a legislative ban on smoking cannabis.

While lawmakers argued smoked cannabis wasn’t medicine, Cathy’s own testimony showed that smoked cannabis is indeed the medicine that has saved Cathy’s life. Cathy testified before multiple committees trying to keep them from banning smoking. Lawmakers disregarded expert testimony to the efficacy of smoked cannabis and in 2017 attorney John Morgan hired John Mills to file a civil rights claim on behalf of patients like Cathy.

Judge Karen Gievers agreed that the Constitutional Amendment passed in 2016 puts no limitation on how a patient can use cannabis. Her ruling was appealed by the State of Florida acting through the Department of Health.

The 1st District Court of Appeals empaneled 3 Judges to hear oral arguments in the case.