Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
A voter initiative to turn marijuana into a legal, regulated product in Florida, much like alcohol, was approved Wednesday by the Florida Division of Elections.
Called “Regulate Florida,” the petition spells out a proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution.
Under the act, it would be legal for adults aged 21 or older to own up to an ounce of marijuana, grow up to six plants within their own own residence, or give away marijuana to someone else.
If approved, the measure would set a July 2017 deadline for Florida state government to begin licensing and regulating commercial grocers, processors and retailers.
You can read or download the four-page Regulate Florida petition here.
Should “Regulate Florida” make it on to the November 2016 ballot, Florida voters could face two decisions about the future use of marijuana: one to legalize medical use and another to legalize adult use.
The Florida Legislature is likely to weigh in on taxes and fees if both or either becomes law.
To be sure, to become a constitutional ballot initiative, Regulate Florida has major obstacles in front of it, just like those faced by the United for Care, which has resurrected its medical marijuana initiative and is aiming for November 2016 ballot boxes.
The petition drive can now start gathering the 683,149 verifiable voter signatures that would be required to put the issue on the November 2016 ballot as a proposed constitutional amendment.
After the Regulate Florida group gathers 68,314 verifiable signatures, they are to submit it to the state’s Attorney General for review. She is likely to turn it over to the Florida Supreme Court, as occurred with last year’s proposed medical marijuana amendment. Assuming the court finds the ballot language acceptable, the Regulate Florida group will then go after the rest of the signatures required.
Once the issue is on the ballot, they will likely need a war chest of $5 million or more to pay for TV ads promoting their cause. That is roughly how much opponents to last year’s proposed medical marijuana amendment spent on their ads.
The newly published petition’s primary author is Bill Wohlsifer, a Tallahassee attorney who is director of legal affairs for the political committee in charge, Sensible Florida Inc. The proposed amendment, said Wohlsifer, “is very comprehensive. It doesn’t leave that much for the Legislature to do.”
Adults would be allowed to grow up to six cannabis plants within their own primary residence, “provided that the growing takes place in an enclosed, locked space, is not conducted openly or publicly, and the cannabis so grown is not made available for sale…”
In a further limitation, the amendment would specify that three or fewer of the plants could be mature or flowering plants.
Chairing the group is Michael Minardi, a Stuart-based defense attorney specializing in cannabis cases. He successfully defended Parrish residents Bob and Cathy Jordan in 2013 after Bob Jordan was charged with growing marijuana on behalf of his wife, who suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.
Sensible Florida Inc. plans a Friday morning press conference in Fort Lauderdale to flesh out details of the proposal.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: A First Look At ‘Regulate Florida’ Initiative To Legalize Marijuana
Author: Michael Pollick
Contact: Contact Webmaster
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson
Website: Herald Tribune Home
Called “Regulate Florida,” the petition spells out a proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution.
Under the act, it would be legal for adults aged 21 or older to own up to an ounce of marijuana, grow up to six plants within their own own residence, or give away marijuana to someone else.
If approved, the measure would set a July 2017 deadline for Florida state government to begin licensing and regulating commercial grocers, processors and retailers.
You can read or download the four-page Regulate Florida petition here.
Should “Regulate Florida” make it on to the November 2016 ballot, Florida voters could face two decisions about the future use of marijuana: one to legalize medical use and another to legalize adult use.
The Florida Legislature is likely to weigh in on taxes and fees if both or either becomes law.
To be sure, to become a constitutional ballot initiative, Regulate Florida has major obstacles in front of it, just like those faced by the United for Care, which has resurrected its medical marijuana initiative and is aiming for November 2016 ballot boxes.
The petition drive can now start gathering the 683,149 verifiable voter signatures that would be required to put the issue on the November 2016 ballot as a proposed constitutional amendment.
After the Regulate Florida group gathers 68,314 verifiable signatures, they are to submit it to the state’s Attorney General for review. She is likely to turn it over to the Florida Supreme Court, as occurred with last year’s proposed medical marijuana amendment. Assuming the court finds the ballot language acceptable, the Regulate Florida group will then go after the rest of the signatures required.
Once the issue is on the ballot, they will likely need a war chest of $5 million or more to pay for TV ads promoting their cause. That is roughly how much opponents to last year’s proposed medical marijuana amendment spent on their ads.
The newly published petition’s primary author is Bill Wohlsifer, a Tallahassee attorney who is director of legal affairs for the political committee in charge, Sensible Florida Inc. The proposed amendment, said Wohlsifer, “is very comprehensive. It doesn’t leave that much for the Legislature to do.”
Adults would be allowed to grow up to six cannabis plants within their own primary residence, “provided that the growing takes place in an enclosed, locked space, is not conducted openly or publicly, and the cannabis so grown is not made available for sale…”
In a further limitation, the amendment would specify that three or fewer of the plants could be mature or flowering plants.
Chairing the group is Michael Minardi, a Stuart-based defense attorney specializing in cannabis cases. He successfully defended Parrish residents Bob and Cathy Jordan in 2013 after Bob Jordan was charged with growing marijuana on behalf of his wife, who suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.
Sensible Florida Inc. plans a Friday morning press conference in Fort Lauderdale to flesh out details of the proposal.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: A First Look At ‘Regulate Florida’ Initiative To Legalize Marijuana
Author: Michael Pollick
Contact: Contact Webmaster
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Elaine Thompson
Website: Herald Tribune Home
