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Medical Marijuana Initiative Gets Needed Signatures For Ballot
January 25, 2014
Medical marijuana proponents cleared a major hurdle Friday by surpassing the number of signatures required to make it on the November ballot.
But it’s still up in the air whether voters will get to choose if they want Florida to join 20 other states and the District of Columbia in legalizing medical marijuana.
The Florida Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments about the ballot initiative last month, will have final say as it decides whether the proposal meets constitutional requirements and does not mislead voters.
With 710,508 validated signatures statewide — 27, 359 more than the required 683,149 — and reaching signature requirements in the bare minimum of 14 congressional districts, People United for Medical Marijuana beat a Feb. 1 deadline for submitting petitions to the state.
“We are absolutely thrilled about reaching the required number of signatures. This is a historic day for Florida. Hopefully, Floridians will not only get a chance to vote on medical marijuana this fall but will pass it and bring relief to the thousands of Floridians that are desperately asking for it,” said Ben Pollara, campaign manager for United for Care, the group working for People United for Medical Marijuana.
The push for the medical marijuana initiative is being led by Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Charlie Crist’s boss, Orlando trial lawyer John Morgan. Morgan and his law firm have contributed at least $2.7 million, including nearly $1 million in loans last month, to the effort. But that’s just a drop in the bucket. Pollara estimates that, if the initiative makes it onto the ballot, the campaign could cost at least $10 million. Like all other constitutional proposals, the amendment would need at least 60 percent of the vote to pass.
Republicans as well as law enforcement and parts of the business community have lined up against the proposal. Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders oppose letting doctors prescribe pot, and Attorney General Pam Bondi’s lawyer argued against the proposal before the high court last month.
Many of the justices’ questions focused on the difference between the ballot summary’s reference to “debilitating diseases,” which would appear before voters, and the amendment language which says doctors could write pot prescriptions for a “debilitating medical condition.”
Solicitor General Allen Winsor, representing opponents, argued that the ballot title and summary that would appear on the ballot could deceive voters about the scope of the amendment. Winsor argued that the ballot language is misleading because it wrongly leads voters to believe that fewer people could get access to pot when doctors instead would have much more liberty to determine who qualifies.
But former House Speaker Jon Mills, a constitutional lawyer who authored the proposed amendment and argued on its behalf before the court, said the proposal was written to give doctors the ability to make the best decision for their patients.
Scott has repeatedly said he does not want to make pot legal because of the risks of abuse.
But on Friday, the governor toned down his message, saying he would defer to voters.
“I have a great deal of empathy for people battling difficult diseases and I understand arguments in favor of this initiative. But, having seen the terrible affects of alcohol and drug abuse first-hand, I cannot endorse sending Florida down this path and I would personally vote against it. No matter my personal beliefs, however, a ballot initiative would be up to the voters to decide,” Scott said in an e-mailed statement.
Jenn Meale, a spokeswoman for Bondi, said the attorney general’s office is waiting for a ruling from the Supreme Court on the ballot language and would refrain from commenting Friday.
Morgan insists he was inspired by his own family’s suffering. He said medical marijuana eased the excruciating pain and discomfort his father experienced as a result of emphysema and esophageal cancer.
But some critics have questioned Morgan’s true motives. Putting the pot question on the November ballot where his friend and fellow Democrat Crist might also appear may help the former governor. Polls have shown widespread support for the proposal, but the support is even higher among younger voters. Medical marijuana could help drive those voters, who might otherwise stay home in a non-presidential election, to the polls.
The strategy is similar to what Republicans used in previous years with proposals banning gay marriage, said Florida Atlantic University political science professor Kevin Wagner. Wagner said that could also be why Republicans like Bondi are fighting the initiative in court.
“It’s a political play in which neither side cares about who wins but what’s on the ballot,” Wagner said.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Comments
19 Responses to “Medical Marijuana Initiative Gets Needed Signatures For Ballot”
I have grandma seizures and use to stop them it shouldpass
Guys for those of you stating you don’t want people stoned driving or operating on you etc. Guess what those who want to smoke weed for medical or recreational are already driving. I also do know surgeons who smoke daily… Is it okay for them to drink and go to the OR? NO, some people can actually be responsible functioning people on weed, just like some can with booze… others can’t be responsible with either. You can’t hold the ones that can be responsible with it accountable for those who can not. A lot of the “opinions” I read from others on this subject usually amounts to close minded conservative brain washed attitudes toward it. Get educated, quit sounding ignorant on the topic and step out of the past and into a future were people who need it for pain can have it without fear of dying from the treatment. Allow Cancer patients to take it and ease their suffering, it stimulates their apatite and eases their pain at the same time. Not to mention the other qualities hemp has, clothes, paper, fuel, the list goes on and on all from THE SAME PLANT! Marijuana is the way of the future, get on board or stay stuck in your conservative cave and hope you never need it to help with your cancer or pain, or your kids cancer or pain, or any other close loved one.
What i think most people don’t understand is would you rather have a person use a natural herb for pain, or painkillers? Florida is famous for being a pill mill with people on very dangerous pain killers. Why can’t they just use a natural herb? You can’t over dose on Marijuana , so its much safer than the current pills for pain
Lets adults have a choice of what medicine they need to use.
It doesn’t matter if it’s legal or illegal. I know a number of people who smoke weed. These people have families, jobs and are good responsible tax paying citizens. I personally don’t smoke it but that’s my choice not to. We all have a voice and are able to say thanks but no thanks. I also know a number of people who drink like there will never be another drop available. They have lost jobs, families, homes, and automobiles. I come from a broken home that was destroyed by alcoholism. You may have but I personally have never seen a family torn apart by pot. I once had a friend tell me this.. The only reason pot isn’t legal is because it’s too easy to grow and the Government can’t figure out how to tax it. You say don’t put it on the streets, well guess what? It’s already there.
The whole “medical marijuana ” concept is bogus.
I hope it doesn’t pass here. What a lame excuse to put it under “medical use”. I don’t want people who are stoned driving, working etc. Accidents and lawsuits are going to through the roof.
What if you go for surgery and the O.R. staff are lit up because they all have “migraines”. It’s legal, then what?? No thanks….NO WAY!!!
The writing is on the wall; 58% of Americans favor legalization. I foresee marijuana becoming legal, or at a minimum decriminalized in the next ten years.
The biggest opposition of course is still from the pharmaceutical and alcohol producer’s lobbyist, but the Feds are finally realizing that the only group really benefiting from the current laws are the criminals. The Feds have already given permission to allow profits earned through the sale of pot in “legal” states to be deposited in federally-insured financial institutions.
The naysayers sometimes forget, just like alcohol, cigarettes, caffine and all the other “legal” drugs out there; because it’s legal, doesn’t mean YOU have to use it.
I completely agree with legalizing it. It’s a natural growing plant, and can be used for many medical reasons.
Legalize It.
Say no to pot. People say they need and they dont. Keep iy away off the streets
Marijuana provides greater pain relief when taken in pill form than when it is smoked. I am for Medical Marijuana because I saw my sister battle cancer three different times in her life, at 18, 36 then 38. She was so sick from this horrible disease but the nausea she had was terrible and I know that if she could have at least eaten that in itself would have been a blessing. From what I have studied her pain would not have been as bad, she could have eaten, she could have enjoyed what time she had left with her family, mainly her eight and eleven year old she left behind. So before you so no to this think about what you’re saying no to. Let me ask you this do any of you or any of your love ones drink, have medical conditions that could affect your driving if so then maybe you or them should stay off the road. Like anyone who is one pain meds they are only given so many a month, they can’t be misused.
Until Rick Scott attains an M.D., he’s not qualified to speak on behalf of the medical community or it’s patients. Also, “risk for abuse”? Oh, you mean like other legal substances(alcohol, tobacco, prescription pharmaceuticals)? How about this? Smaller government like you campaigned on, Mr. Scott. Why should the state government be allowed between me and what my healthcare professional prescribes. 500,000 is the number of deaths contributed to tobacco in the U.S. annually. Alcohol consumption alone kills 80,000 people annually. That doesn’t include DUI’s or domestic violence issues. 38,000 people are killed every year by “abused” pharmaceuticals. Three quarters of that 38,000 were killed by OxyContin or Vicoden. Ingested marijuana has killed no one………..ever. Will Rick Scott be trying to ban all those “abused” substances as well?
A drug, is a drug, is a drug….. alcohol or weed will impair your driving. Thousands of legal drugs already on the market to ease pain and suffering. I’m not ready to become another Stoner State like Washington and Colorado.
Once again, we’re all going to need medical pot when that train wreck Obamacare gets through with us.
SAY NO TO POT
oh shoot people give them people what they need for medical purposes. they sale beer wine and whiskey that can kill you and impair your driving but never do you hear people that pot can kill you or impair your driving.its a natural weed that been around for years.the goverment wants to control it so they can get money off it. no they dont want people to grow it because they dont get thee cut off it. they control everything in this country now they want to control something that can help people from being sick from treatments.shame on you goverment.
Now watch those ignorant politicians squash it before it gets any further. Then we remember who they are and vote them out of office next election.
Rick, Pam and company could benefit from the proverb of the Wind and the Lion.
The will of the people always prevails in the end. One way or another.
GOOD JOB! Now lets conquer the next step and keep on pushing forward until this matter is LEGALIZED!
Why not help out people in need? And for those that say it will encourage others to do it…trust me, the people who want it will get it regardless of whether or not it’s legal. But, the ones who need it and can’t get it, this would be a tremendous help!