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 Senators Jeff Clemens and Joe Saunders, both Democrats, brought
numerous patients and their family members to the unveiling of their
bill, which would effectively implement by statute the
constitutional amendment that is on the November ballot
"This bill puts patients before politics," said Cathy Jordan of
Parrish, president of the Florida Cannabis Action Network, who has
lived 28 years with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig Disease.
Jordan, whose speech is slurred by her illness, sat in her
wheelchair next to her husband, Robert, who read her statement at a
news conference in front of the Florida Senate.
The amendment, and the newly introduced legislation, would specify
tight state regulation for doctors to prescribe marijuana for
treatment of conditions like cancer, HIV/AIDS, ALS and other severe
afflictions.
Identically worded bills were introduced in both houses of the state
legislature on Monday, offering greater ease of passage.
The session starting March 4 will mark the fourth year such a bill
has been introduced. Republican legislative leaders, along with
Governor Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi, vigorously
oppose the constitutional amendment.
The Florida Supreme Court approved the ballot language on the
amendment, though, and it will become law if 60 percent of the
voters approve it next November. Polls show the ballot proposal
has a strong chance of success. If the amendment passes, Saunders
said the 2015 Legislature will have to pass implementing legislation
specifying "how will we grow it, how will people who need it get
access to it and how will those who are seeking to abuse it receive
consequences?
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While Republican leaders oppose the medical marijuana amendment, a
separate bill allowing use of a non-euphoric marijuana extract known
as "Charlotte's Web" is also making progress in the Florida House.
The derivative is drawn from a portion of the marijuana plant that
does not get users high, but has shown results in treating seizures.
The constitutional amendment is seen as a driver for Democratic
voter turnout at the polls in November. The petition campaign that
put it on the ballot was bankrolled by Orlando attorney John Morgan,
a close ally of former Governor Charlie Crist, who is seeking the
Democratic nomination for another term as governor.
Crist supports the amendment and political observers expect the
referendum will draw more young and minority voters, who tend to
vote Democratic.
(Reporting by David Adams; editing by Leslie Adler)
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