People United for Medical Marijuana is collecting signatures to put medical marijuana on the next Florida ballot. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons.)
By Ralph De La Cruz
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
For the second consecutive year, medical marijuana legislation has been filed in the Florida legislature. In fact, when state Sen. Larcenia Bullard filed a companion bill to Rep. Jeff Clements’ House bill, it was the first time that medical marijuana bills have been filed in both chambers.
It’s progress for medical marijuana proponents. But it’s also questionable whether such efforts are simply — pardon the expression — pipe dreams.
Florida, after all, is a state that seems to pride itself on being on the opposite coast from California, the medical marijuana homeland. The Golden State being perceived as young. The Sunshine State perceived as old. Mountains, snow and deserts on one side; coastal flats, thunder and lightning, and everglades on the other. Earthquakes vs. hurricanes. Cold Pacific vs. warm Atlantic. Disneyland vs. Disneyworld. Marijuana vs. OxyContin Express. Politics controlled by liberals versus politics controlled by conservatives.
And yet, we both grow oranges and avocados. In both states, a majority favor the idea of medical marijuana. Here in Florida, the figure is 57 percent, according to a poll earlier this year from Fabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates. And that’s no pothead polling firm. Tony Fabrizio was Rick Scott’s pollster.
Granted, that 57 percent is well below the 73 percent level nationally. And it’s worth remembering that, despite comprising only 36 percent of registered voters, Republicans hold the governor’s mansion and majorities in both chambers. In other words, Florida Republicans are motivated and organized, and run the show in the Sunshine State. And save maverick, libertarian-leaning Republicans such as Ron Paul and Jesse Ventura, Republicans are notoriously hard-line on marijuana.
But it’s also worth noting that Republicans have maintained control by capturing a significant part of the 20 percent of Floridians who consider themselves unaffiliated. It would seem the 20 percent are key to any hopes for medical marijuana advocates. In the Fabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates poll, Florida independents favored medical marijuana by a 65-35 margin.
Medical marijuana efforts here are fairly nascent. They’ve only been underway since 2009.
And as in all states that have looked at medical marijuana, Florida advocates’ biggest initial hurdle is the perception that anyone who supports medical marijuana supports open drug use. That’s made the issue a political pariah (remember the dismissive answer provided by then-candidate Barack Obama, who acknowledged he smoked pot as a youngster when asked about marijuana legalization during a televised town hall meeting. That perception makes people reluctant to even discuss the issue, despite clear support for it. In state newspapers, the issue has gotten little more than “how cute” coverage.
But that’s not the case in college newspapers, such as The Alligator. Or on internet sites such as Toke of the Town.
You can also read about the issue on the lawyerly Medical Marijuana Blog, get a more stoner view in The Weed Blog, or the more (again, pardon the double entendre), high-minded, serious approach from The Marijuana Policy Project and The 420 Times.
One of the state leaders, People United for Medical Marijuana, (PUFMM — puff medical marijuana, get it?) is trying to bypass the Republican legislature by collecting enough signatures on a petition to force the issue on the ballot. But as of Oct. 29, PUFMM had only gathered 29,922 signatures — only four percent of the 676,811 it needs by Feb. 1.
The attention from college newspapers and blogs shows not only the depth and diversity of support for medical marijuana, but that this is an issue defined as much by generational differences as the typical conservative-liberal divisions. Previous generations were the ones who classified marijuana as being more dangerous and having less medicinal value than Heroin. Marijuana would actually have to be downgraded from its current position as a schedule 1 drug to a mere schedule 2 drug to be considered equal to heroin.
For young people, who are increasingly using marijuana (more than one-fifth of 18 to 25 year olds smoke), that assessment of pot as among the most dangerous known drugs rings false.
But everyone knows that young people, at worst, don’t vote, and at best aren’t a dependable voting constituency.
Now, if seniors were to get involved …
… It could get interesting in Tallahassee.
Why is it that I am 65 and much of the medicine my Doctor give me leave constipated makes me gain Weight and have to chose between food or medicine where for a few seeds I can grow my own medicine for free an feel good and none of the bad effect of big Pharma crap. Its live Free or Die now. Cancel this WAR on People
I’m an MJ user from California for the past 2 years. I’m upset at how the government portrayed marijuana as useless. Its not. I can walk and run now where I couldn’t 2 years ago. Big Pharma helped but only a little and… it also broke my body down. MJ doesn’t break me down and has helped me maintain a higher quality of life. Its incredible. Its not for everyone but it is for me and many and our rights should not be taken away. Legalize It!
So the U.S. Gov has it as Schedule I drug “no medicinal use” but then they own the patent on Cannabinoids (#6630507), which only come from marijuana, and states it does have medicinal purpose. Now they are in talks to hand the patent over to a NY based company ( http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2011/12/feds_close_to_granting_medical.php )to process marijuana. HOW CAN THEY DO THAT IF ITS SCHEDULE I, BREAKING THEIR OWN LAW? This is not the only thing our Gov is corrupt with, just one example. People take back your rights from the Fed and then vote real people in office, not these faker cronies. I voted for Obama but he lied so I’m done with him. Ron Paul 2012 (the guy stands by all of his positions and doesn’t flip flop like everyone else). Plus he wants to get rid of the FED which would improve this country so so much. Ppl pls read up on the subject, don’t be sheeple. People of Florida Stand Up! Peace!
Nice photo of Mexican schwag. Looks like it was pulled right off the brick? Hopefully Florida voters will be able to decide what medications like cannabis should be available to them.
Well, I happen to have gotten the rare opportunity to speak with Florida Congressmen about this issue and…It ain’t NEVER going to happen. In fact I have been told that medical marijuana will never be legal in nearly all of the Southern States and that a majority of legislators plan to keep it that way. The issue has zero support at the political level.
@Dave You’re partially correct. Many of the people in marijuana states recovered their rights through initiatives, not through legislatures. That’s simply what we will have to do in Florida. Fortunately, we have the ability to amend the constitution through initiative. Unfortunately, for our adjoining states, much of the south does not…
If you really want to support this and help get people in FL the medicine they really need, sign this petition! For every signature a member of the FL House of Representatives is notified by email.
Change.org|Start an Online Petition »
I have known Connie Mack since he was 6 years old. As a young man he was honest and straight up in his responses to me on different issues. I wrote him a letter asking his stand on medical pot and in return I got a standardized letter stating that the NIH had not endorsed pot as meds. I’m ashamed of Connie and I had hoped he would do some simple homework and stand up for something that is important to alot of his voters. I have severe arthritis and must move to another state to use a natural medicine that the state of Florida has decided is illegal. Why should I move because of the laws here when supposedly smart people are running the government. C’mon Connie do what’s right! be the man your voters need and get a backbone instead of floundering in the political waste.
I am in my 60′s and would much rather smoke marihuana for my high blood pressure than take all the medication I’ve been given. in fact, medical marihuana is also helpful for diabetes II. Florida … you are so behind the times. More people in Florida – old and young – smoke pot. So legalize it, allow it’s use for medicinal purposes, decriminalize it. it is not smack or crack or meth — it is a living plant that grows naturally with no additives, no chemicals, no control. Big money – would be great for the State’s coffers.
One thing that I feel needs to be brought up as well is FL’s unemployment rate, and how the addition of a medical marijuana law would help fix that. It could help farmers who’s food crops have suffered, distribution centers would open and in turn employ local residents. This amendment/law would do more than allow people to get the natural medicine they deserve, it would also help our economy greatly. (Pardon any misspelled words, wrote this from my phone)
We all know the great medicinal purposes and economic growth state wide in medical marijuana. The only problem is that there is not enough public attention on this matter.
We live in a retarded time; marijuana has only been illegal for the past 100 years. Everyone forgets about the first couple thousand years when no one had a problem with it. Your idiot government creates bullshit laws; go back to bed America, your government is in control of this transmission.
I’m moving to California, where I wont be sent to prison for smoking a plant that grows. Oh yeah, remember that opium qualifies too. Dumbass Floridians.
First of all, I was born and raised in Florida and other then military service, I have always lived in my home state of Florida, But sadly, I too am attempting to sell my Florida Home and move to California….. I am a retired US Army Veteran of 25 years and have been on Disability for a severe lumbar spinal injury for 12 years…. and have been told by 3 different doctors that no surgery can help me with my injury and the only thing offered is Opium Based narcotics and creams… And seeing that just about every politician in the State of Florida gets campaign contributions from Pharacudical Corp.’s — may explain why for the past 20 years or so, 90% of all opiates are prescribed in Florida,(the pill mill state) and the other 10% is spread out among the other 49 states and for the most part, is why the political force at the capital look away from the fact,($$$$) and says why the crooked, ” Hypocrates ” in Tallahassee will never make medical marijuana available…. Even if it was completely regulated and taxed by the state, too many greesed palms by the pharacudical corp.’s…. so now I am forced now to leave my home state for a foreign state on the other side of our country, where at least freedom is available and saddly have to say goodbye to Florida and the crooked Political Socialism Agenda that they have here in my home state….!!! ” I will never look back or have anymore dealings with my home birthed state…. “Ooooo Raaaaa….” Goodbye Florida…
I too have a ruined back/neck from fighting this so called “war” The war is over and the drugs won. I am on a fentanyl/norco Rx. due to my inoperable injuries sustained while I was working dope at a rather large Ca. city, so I am a ‘double loser’ to Thee War. I agree w/the aforementioned “shwag reference” as I was recently in Ca. and was able to smoke some herbs out there to where instead of switching my fentanyl patch every 48 hrs. and 4 norco/day, I was able to switch patches at 72 hrs. and only ingested 16 norco for the 7 days I was in Ca.
I disagree though with the idea of being able to smoke a bowl on the beach or walk down the street burnin a number. If you find that you can’t wait 5-10 minutes or get out of the public eye to smoke then I’d surmise you have bigger issues than smoking some grass. Good luck with that.
While I was working as a cop in the ghetto, I’d often get dispatched to a call of men gambling on the corner and when/if I was able to catch any of them, I’d ask “why don’t you do this where the folks’ that don’t know this neighborhood (the ones living there would never call out of fear of retaliation) wouldn’t see you, therefore wouldn’t call the police”? yes, it was rhetorical.
I live in a medical cannabis state and will have to move to Florida my the end of the month…I think Floridians need to follow the money.
I bet the the campaign funds of all those Republicans are paid for by laundered money from the drug cartels. They stand to loose so much money if medical cannabis is available and a person can grow their won. I will also wager that the big pharma puts tons of money into their campaigns also….
FOLLOW THE MONEY!!
I hink medical marijuana should be legal in florida for 3 reasons 1 so manythousands maybe hundreds of thousands of jobs that i among millions of floridians need 2 it will cure so many ailments that plague patients in florida 3 it will help me i am in wheelchair from accident in 04 andi am in so much pain from the time i awake until the time i fall asleep medical marijuana can help with that it will help me gain weight fall asleep at night and just be more happy i vote yes for medical marijuana in florida
heel Lifts are not make up nor are they a fashion item, heel Lifts aren’t a face lift and heel Lifts are definitely not a physique building course or a self defense course, heel Lifts are image enhancement exactly exactly the same as make up, nail polish, hair combing or shining shoes, that is all
http://www.theroaches.info/bbforum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=30244&sid=e6d05627ac09905ec7fe7aee33140900
heel Lifts are insoles, shoe insoles to become precise, an additional insole placed in the bed from the shoe that provides the user the same effect as women garner from high heel shoes
http://icecap.us/index.php/member/459348/
I’m a floridian that’s insist that we get marijuana legalized there are no harmful effects of marijuana. The sooner we get it legal the sooner we can pull our selfs out of this shitty economy.marijuana is not a gateway drug and I hate when people say it is. I’ve never
Even thought of trying anthoer “drug” and it’s not addicting the only reason people smoke it everyday is because they love it and it helps people get motivated and it helps relieve chronic pain.
Going back towards the apparently difficult operating and underpaid medical profession, are there any approving statements coming from this erstwhile profession? “shoe lifts can be useful in stabilizing your feet, redistributing pressure, and also providing an extra tactile input so that your body/brain know where your feet are
http://www.mydigitaldispatch.com/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=1085148