POZ Community Forums
Off Topic Forums => Off Topic Forum => Topic started by: J.R.E. on January 24, 2014, 08:45:16 pm
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http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2014/1/24/medical_marijuana.html
Florida medical marijuana bill gets enough signatures for 2014 ballot
ORLANDO --
Supporters of legalizing medical marijuana in Florida are one step closer to achieving their goal.
Early Friday afternoon, the Florida Division of Elections website showed over 710,000 verified signatures in support of the medical marijuana amendment.
The bill needed at least 683,149 voter signatures from at least 14 of Florida's 27 congressional districts by Feb. 1, as required by state law. As of Friday, enough signatures have come from 14 congressional districts, putting it just over the required halfway mark.
Last week, Ben Pollara, the campaign manager for United for Care, claimed organizers had collected more than 1.1 million signatures.
Groups pushing a constitutional amendment typically gather more signatures than needed in case some are rejected.
Up next in the process, the state Supreme Court will issue an opinion on whether or not the language of the ballot is clear and not misleading.
The 74-word ballot, coming in at just under the 75-word limit on summing up a proposed amendment, reads as follows:
Allows the medical use of marijuana for individuals with debilitating diseases as determined by a licensed Florida physician.
Allows caregivers to assist patients' medical use of marijuana.
The Department of Health shall register and regulate centers that produce and distribute marijuana for medical purposes and shall issue identification cards to patients and caregivers.
Applies only to Florida law.
Does not authorize violations of federal law or any non-medical use, possession or production of marijuana.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi told the court she believes the wording of the amendment is too vague and could lead to anybody getting medical marijuana, whether there was a legitimate medical need or not.
The Florida Supreme Court is expected to issue an opinion on or before April 1. If approved, the amendment would need a 60 percent "yes" vote from voters in order to pass.
Around the U.S., 20 other states and the District of Columbia have laws allowing medical use of marijuana.
The bill's backers are led by Orlando attorney John Morgan, who said he's the benefit of using the drug by his late father, who had esophageal cancer, and his brother, who is a quadriplegic.
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Good news for those whose pain can be alleviated with marijuana.
Jody
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Good news for those whose pain can be alleviated with marijuana.
Jody
A+
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8)
And today the Florida Supreme Court ruled 4 to 3 to approve the language for the bill. So this will officially be on the ballot in November, and will pass without a problem!
http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2014/1/27/medical_marijuana.html
Ray
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Oh my! Florida is going to hell in a hand basket. :o
Keep up the good work! :)
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I'm in So CAL. Given Florida's reputation as the pain clinic capital of the US, I would think you'll have docs falling all over themselves to write you a 420 prescription. Here in CA, anyone can get one. Costs $50/year for the 420 card.
I got one a couple months ago. From an ex-pot smoker from the 70's/80's, the pot I get at the dispensary is better than the best I ever got in college (70's)... except for perhaps opiated Thai-stick. You can even buy hash oil and hash oil rock (like crack). I use the Plenty vaporizer made by Storz and Bickel ... much better than smoking it. It's my Friday night treat now. If medical 420 doesn't pass in FL, So Cal awaits... much better weather out here than in FL.
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Yaa hooo going from Colorado to Florida one toke at a time! 8)
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It's already quasi legal in West Virginia, just nobody knows it. :) I have family members there that I don't think have ever worked a legit job in their lives and live fabulously. They'll crusade against legalization as it affects their bottom line and profit margins.
greg
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However, it does take a super majority (60%) for an amendment to pass in FL. So it's not a certainty to pass.