Senators to weigh gambling, medical marijuana

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Senate committees Wednesday will begin digging into a proposed gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida and will continue debating whether to allow terminally ill patients to have access to medical marijuana.

The Senate Regulated Industries Committee will hold a workshop and take testimony about what is known as a gambling "compact" with the tribe.

Gov. Rick Scott and the tribe last month announced a proposed agreement that would allow Seminole casinos to offer craps and roulette in exchange for $3 billion to the state over seven years. But Senate leaders have expressed doubts about passing the proposed compact without changes.

Also Wednesday, the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee will consider a bill (SB 460), filed by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, that would allow patients with terminal illness to get medical marijuana. The bill has already received the unanimous support of two Senate committees and will be ready to go to the Senate floor if approved by the Fiscal Policy Committee.