Florida Gov. Crist signs pain clinic reform legislation

A bill that will strengthen regulation of Florida's pain management clinics was signed into law Friday.

Gov. Charlie Crist approved the bill, which will prevent felons from owning the clinics, limit anyone paying cash for the prescription narcotics to a 72-hour supply, ban advertisements for specific treatments like the opiate oxycodone and require specific training for doctors to practice pain management.

There are currently about 50 registered pain clinics in Jacksonville. The new regulations will go into effect Oct. 1.