When an amendment to legalize medical marijuana in Florida narrowly failed last November, many thought the State Legislature might take up the matter.
On Monday, a lawmaker from St. Petersburg began the process.
Republican State Sen. Jeff Brandes filed a bill that would allow people suffering from serious conditions such as cancer, AIDS or Parkinson's Disease to obtain and use medical-grade marijuana if a physician certifies its use.
Doctors would have to specify the "the specific concentrations of individual cannabinoids that must be present to treat the patient's condition," and patients would be limited to a 30-day supply.
If the bill is passed, it would legalize marijuana use by many of the same chronically-ill patients who would have been covered by the failed amendment.
In the past, similar bills have been filed, but always with Democratic sponsors and always with no results. But this time, it's a Republican who has drafted the bill.
Brandes has plenty of friends in Tallahassee's Republican majority, and he says those friends don't want a replay of a campaign season dominated by medical marijuana.
"For me, that's what is so important: let's do it through the legislative process, let's get it vetted, let's let both physicians and patients come tell their story, tell why this is necessary, and figure out the right process for Florida," Brandes said.
The amendment failed in November (it needed 60 percent support and got 57.6), in part because of opposition by the law enforcement community. Critics said the amendment was too loosely written and could lead to de facto legal recreational marijuana.
Brandes' bill addresses those concerns in several ways, including proposed training for physicians and dispensaries would not be able to open wherever they want. The local county commission would have to approve them.
In addition, prescribing physician would have to certify that the patient has exhausted available and reasonable medical treatment before qualifying for medical marijuana. Two physicians would have to certify a minor's qualifying condition or symptom.
Lobbyist Jeff Sharkey and his partner Taylor Biehl have been pushing lawmakers to legalize medical marijuana for years. They say that when Amendment 2 nearly passed, Republicans got to work.
"Most of them did not want it in the Constitution," said Sharkey, who is with the Medical Marijuana Business Association of Florida. "I think that's a real difficult issue for a lot of them, so for the Legislature to approach this and try to find a solution, I think a lot of those opponents have kind of gravitated towards, 'well, let's see if we can find something that really works, that's controlled well, that's safe and secure.' "
Bill 528 is a "very good start" and "one that would serve as a huge step forward for Florida's suffering patients and their families, the pro medical marijuana group United For Care said in a statement.
"This bill proves that the massive support we received in the last election ... plus our quick work to bring the petition back for 2016 is getting recognized by reasonable legislators like Sen. Brandes," United for Care state director Elias Egozi said in a statement.
None of this is to say that it will be easy to get the bill passed. Critics are continuing to warn that legalization of medical marijuana would make it easier for people who don't have chronic issues to get their hands on pot. The Drug Free America Foundation has already said it will be opposing the bill.