Florida - Deadline For Medical Marijuana Petition Approaches

[The General]

Supporters of legalizing medical marijuana in Florida are trying to get hundreds of thousands of signatures on a petition so Floridians can eventually vote on the proposal. But opponents said the plan is too broad. It's a proposal that could change the state of Florida forever. The only way to get it on the ballot, giving voters a chance to vote yes or no on legalizing marijuana for medical use, is if supporters get 683,000 valid signatures by Feb. 1.

"If marijuana is to help, then let it be a help. If you're sick then that's the only opportunity you can get it," said supporter Brian Urrego. "I feel like people would use the dispensaries in a wrong way. They wouldn't use it for real illnesses or sickness. They would just use it to get high," said James Sullins, who opposes legalizing medical marijuana. Some signatures will most likely be thrown out because people who signed were not registered voters, Florida residents or signed the petition more than once. Although attorney John Morgan said they already have more than 800,000 signatures, he is pushing for one million just to be safe.

"Let me say that I'm a fairly conservative person who believes in this compassionate issue. Let me be the poster boy for this," said Morgan, chairman for United For Care. Very passionate about people that are suffering from a lot of diseases so it was very important to be to see this go on the ballot," said volunteer Glenda Chauncy. While supporters are trying to get signatures, Attorney General Pam Bondi has taken her own petition before the Florida Supreme Court.

In an October letter to the Florida Supreme Court, Bondi wrote an 18-page petition speaking out against legalizing medical marijuana. "The ballot title and summary suggest that the amendment would allow medical marijuana in narrow, defined circumstances, and only for patients with "debilitating diseases". But if the amendment passed, Florida law would allow marijuana in limitless situations," Bondi wrote. When fact checked by PolitiFact, Bondi's position was rated "mostly true," meaning her statement was accurate but needs clarification or additional information.

"Misconception number two t's going to be easy to get. It's only going to be easy to get if we can't trust our doctors. If the doctors decided to abuse it, then we got to focus on them, not the law," Morgan said. The Florida Supreme Court has until April 1 to accept or deny Bondi's petition to get the amendment off the ballot. If the medical marijuana amendment makes the November 2014 ballot, it will only pass with at least 60 percent voter approval. A recent Quinnipiac University poll said 82 percent of Florida voters surveyed support legalizing marijuana for medical use.

News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Baynews9.com
Author: John W. Davis
Contact: Contact Bay News 9 | Send Story Ideas & Breaking News Tips
Website: Deadline for medical marijuana petition approaches | Orange County

 

[riverbrez]

Whats up with Ms. Bondi? Is she after Mr. Anslingers old federal job? She needs to visit a few florida hospitals and explain her views to all the pain riddled cancer, ms, and other patients that cant recieve relief of their pain. Undoubtably she has no family members which have a desperate need of pain relief or seizures that pharmecuticals can't help. Her political position should not be used to impliment her personal opinion.

 

[FLTransplant]

Whats up with Ms. Bondi? Is she after Mr. Anslingers old federal job? She needs to visit a few florida hospitals and explain her views to all the pain riddled cancer, ms, and other patients that cant recieve relief of their pain. Undoubtably she has no family members which have a desperate need of pain relief or seizures that pharmecuticals can't help. Her political position should not be used to impliment her personal opinion.

I have been in awe, and basically embarrassed of the ridiculously uneducated ramblings Pam Bondi has uttered and spewed in the past; however, recently, she has been in rare form.

It's sad enough that Cathy Jordan, a well known supporter, couldn't get anyone in power to give her MMJ bill any consideration last year-although, her house was raided and medicine confiscated by the Sheriff's Department shortly after her effort to legalize medical cannabis. No more perpetual cycle.

What did the people of Florida get? A new law increasing the penalties for the sale of smoking devices; maybe that will keep the oxycontin off the streets, a bong ban, a better Florida for all.

Currently, it's Bondi challenging the scope of the new proposed MMJ amendment and trying to dismantle all of the hard work of Florida's "United For Care." It almost seems like a game for Bondi, as the main financial backer of the Florida MMJ movement, John Morgan, is actually very good friends with her-and that's not gossip; it's well known they are close. I wonder if she has a couple hundred on the Supreme Court's upcoming ruling. It won't be a game if one of her loved one's needs the relief only cannabis can provide.

Florida is such a mess, so absolutely frustrating...let's hope all the hard work pays off.