[Tudo]

There is also an online poll showing 87% in support of legalization for at least medicial use. This newspaper is from Ft Myers on the west coast:

Florida medical marijuana advocates claim impending victory


Supporters of legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes in Florida are sure 2014 will be the year their wish becomes reality.
“Florida is ready to explode,” said Jodi James, executive director of the Florida Cannabis Action Network. “We firmly believe that Florida patients will have legal access to cannabis by November 2014.”
Strong words in a state where a proposed medical marijuana bill died in committee early in the 2013 legislative session. Sponsor Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, said last week he will bring back the measure for another go-round in 2014. Clemens said he also could propose a constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana.
But legislators could be pre-empted by the power of the people if the drive to collect more than 683,000 voter signatures to put the issue on the ballot takes off. That drive appeared to be sputtering because of a lack of resources until John Morgan, head of the Morgan and Morgan law firm, recently joined the effort in favor of medical pot.
Morgan promised to commit his own funds and raise money from other donors to pay for the signature-gathering campaign, estimated to cost more than $3 million, according to published reports. Backers believe Morgan’s political and financial clout could fuel their cause to victory.
“In Florida, John Morgan is the biggest friend the issue ever had,” said Jack Tanner of Fort Myers. He is a member of the Lee Liberty Caucus, a group first organized to back Ron Paul for president in 2008. “John Morgan knows how to do things, and he has the money to back it up.”
Morgan joined and is now chairman of the political committee of People United for Medical Marijuana, which was founded as a grass-roots organization four years ago by Orlando resident Kim Russell. Russell said in an interview Ben Pollara, a lobbyist and fundraiser for the President Obama re-election campaign, brought together her and Morgan. According to published reports, Morgan has said marijuana helped ease his father’s suffering as he was dying of cancer. Pollara is now treasurer of the group
Clemens believes if the issue goes to a ballot, it will pass. “That to me is a done deal. As far as I’m concerned, the question becomes whether the Legislature wants to be pre-emptive,” or wait until people approve it themselves, he said.
The arguments

Not everyone is pleased about the possibility.
“The whole issue of marijuana as medicine I’m not sure is a legitimate argument,” said Deborah Comella, executive director of the Lee County Coalition for a Drug-Free Southwest Florida. “Do I think we need to have marijuana legalized for some people to get better? No.”
First, what is needed is to see what compounds are in smoked marijuana that makes it effective “and we need to get the FDA involved and get it produced in a safe way,” Comella said. “Find out what works and what makes it a safe substance so we can prescribe it. “
Anthony Cincotti, 41, of Cape Coral, said he used medical marijuana safely and effectively after he was injured on the job in 2008 as a corrections officer in Nevada. Cincotti said he was on 14 medications, including anti-spasmatics, muscle relaxants, and 20 mg of oxycodone every four hours, after he suffered a tear in his spinal cord. Some of the medications were taken to offset the side effects of other medications, he said.
Then a doctor suggested he try medical marijuana and gave him a prescription. Before he took it, he did online research to look at the pros and cons, including the fact it was supposed to be a “gateway” drug, Cincotti said.
“If anything, it was a gateway away from opiate medications for me,” he said Thursday. Within a month, he had better mobility and was able to drop 10 of 14 medications, Cincotti said. “It dramatically increased my quality of life.”
When he moved to Florida, the relief he got from medical marijuana ended, he said. Taking Tylenol and ibuprofen along with muscle relaxants doesn’t cut it, but he believes marijuana will be legalized for medical use in Florida soon.
“It’s literally a matter of time,” he said.
Trends

Support for legalizing medical marijuana in Florida has grown to 70 percent, according to a survey conducted early this year by the Hamilton Campaigns consulting group for People United for Medical Marijuana.
The number reflects rising support across the country, said Mason Tvert, communications director for the Marijuana Policy Project, a national group which works “to end marijuana prohibition and the criminalization of seriously ill people who use it for medical purposes,” he said. The project believes marijuana should be regulated and taxed, similar to alcohol.
The Pew Research Center in Washington announced in April that for the first time, its polls show a majority of Americans (52 percent) support making marijuana legal.
There are 18 states along with the District of Columbia that have passed legalization laws, Tvert said.
There are 11 states with pending legislation to legalize medical marijuana, according to the nonprofit procon.org. They are: Alabama, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and New York.
https://www.news-press.com/article/20...nclick_check=1

[OLDproLg]

To bad the dude moved here?

This is the bible belt,an a domino state!
When thing get going......it will pass i can feel it.

i knew it would be 2014 not this year.....it takes time thats all!!!
peace to FLA.

[Tudo]

Not when the governor just signed a ban on pipes and bongs making them a felony. What a fked up place. Really.

[Drift13]

Got my finger & toes crossed for 2014. But only time will tell.

[VirginHarvester]

Originally Posted by Tudo

Not when the governor just signed a ban on pipes and bongs making them a felony. What a fked up place. Really.

Crazy huh? Sounds like a governor more interested in providing prisoners for that industry. Criminals imho.

[k-s-p]

The South will be the last area to go legal or even medical.

Lets DO THIS SHIT already Florida!

[Morcheeba*]

“The whole issue of marijuana as medicine I’m not sure is a legitimate argument,” said Deborah Comella, executive director of the Lee County Coalition for a Drug-Free Southwest Florida. “Do I think we need to have marijuana legalized for some people to get better? No.”
First, what is needed is to see what compounds are in smoked marijuana that makes it effective “and we need to get the FDA involved and get it produced in a safe way,” Comella said. “Find out what works and what makes it a safe substance so we can prescribe it.



i hope anyone who debates these propaganda pushing people can shut them up by pointing out that either they are being misleading with their info or have a lack of understanding of how Schedule I Controlled Substances undergo medical research.

i doubt they know how often credible research institutions are denied the ability to legally research Cannabis.

i hope the ball doesnt get dropped by the person who engages in interview's regarding the TRUTH about medical cannabis and i hope the opposition is forced to back up their stance w/facts and their justification in denying patients safe access to medical cannabis.

[wingdings]

The other side is literally running out of credible arguments. Gateway drug? It seems the opposite is true. "okay lets just find out what makes cannabis so effective and synthesize it in a lab, so it won't be dangerous anymore?" I don't think that's how nature works.

[Drift13]

Just got this today;


Fellow Floridians,

We know you are anxiously awaiting the new petition. The reason for the delay is that we are making some final adjustments so we can ensure the petition will withstand even the toughest legal scrutiny, and still retain its purpose as a means towards compassionate care of our loved ones.

I can assure you of two things: 1) that you will know the minute the new petition is ready, and 2) together we will be able to mount a successful signature gathering campaign.

While John Morgan and other leaders have promised to support a petition gathering campaign, there is no doubt that we each have a significant role to play in this effort, and part of that role is helping fund the petition launch campaign. Fellow supporters, we need you to get your friends and family to click the link below, and support our values of compassion and love.

Can you help us fund our launch week visibility campaign?

Please make a contribution today to United for Care by clicking here.

You are a key part of our core team of volunteers and supporters. Thank you for your patience and your ongoing resolve to get this passed. United, we will succeed!

Sincerely,

Ben Pollara

United for Care
www.unitedforcare.org


With any luck things are going to start moving along.