On April 14, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried posted a video to social media displaying her medical marijuana card. In the video, Fried reminded viewers medical marijuana was passed by 71 percent of Floridians through a ballot initiative in 2016. The medical marijuana issue was a calling card for Fried’ campaign in 2018, and it has been reported Fried has a financial interest in the marijuana industry.
I want to show you something. pic.twitter.com/MbdWca0gaz
— Nikki Fried (@NikkiFried) April 14, 2021
However, Fried followed up the clip with a 15-minute interview with Jim DeFede at Facing South Florida where she said she was approved for a medical marijuana card due to a sleeping disorder.
According to the text of the ballot initiative Fried referenced in her clip, Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization, Amendment 2 (2016), the only “debilitating medical conditions” allowing for a Floridian to qualify for a medical marijuana card are cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, PTSD, ALS, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.
DeFede pressed her about her medical marijuana card further:
“Just to remind folks, that ballot title was use of marijuana for debilitating medical conditions. And the term debilitating medical conditions was specifically defined in statute, referring to cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS post-traumatic stress disorder ALS Crohn’s Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and other debilitating medical conditions of the same kind or class or comparable to those enumerated.
I guess what I’m saying is, you know, I don’t think– do you think that people would have voted for it if they had included sleep disorder or inability to be able to sleep.”
Fried responded:
“I do because the amount of people that I talk to across not just the state but across the country who have similar conditions that just really can’t sleep and that is debilitating. Walking the halls every single night. And so this is something, people were voting for medical marijuana because they wanted people to be having other options, more natural options, getting off of pharmaceutical drugs, other things that are more harmful than access to cannabis.”
Critics have asked how Fried obtained her medical marijuana card when sleeping disorders are not included in the ballot initiative passed by Florida’s voters.
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Grant Holcomb is a reporter at the Florida Capital Star and the Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips.
