Florida Democrats Celebrate Appeals Victory in Marijuana Patient Rights Case

TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Florida Democratic Party released the following statement after the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the federal prohibition on medical marijuana users purchasing firearms may be unconstitutional. The case was originally spearheaded by Florida’s 12th Commissioner of Agriculture, Nikki Fried. 

“As Commissioner, I brought this case on behalf of Florida’s medical marijuana patients and Florida’s over 1.3 million veterans, who after proudly serving our country should not be forced to choose between access to life-saving medicine and their Second Amendment rights,” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried.

“Under my leadership, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services made gun licensing safer and more efficient, while also ending the NRA’s influence over the office. Unfortunately, under Republican leadership, FDACS has pushed to unwind  my reforms, abandoned this case against the federal government, and deserted the veterans and Floridians it sought to protect.” 

71% of voters in Florida supported establishing a state constitutional right to medical marijuana. This lawsuit sought to defend the rights and freedoms of the nearly 1 million medical marijuana users in Florida, and this week’s groundbreaking ruling is a victory for patients as well as sensible gun owners across the nation. The success of this case demonstrates that when Democrats are elected, we are able to champion issues that impact the everyday lives of Floridians.

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