Ryan Ray
John Morgan said Thursday that all donations in 2015 to his United for Care group, which is pushing for a constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana, will be personally matched by the millionaire attorney to the tune of nine to one.
Morgan said in a prepared statement that his personal convictions will drive him to spare no expense when it comes to bringing patients who use cannabis to treat their ailments out of the shadows.
“I started doing this because of my brother and father. During his last days, my father was able to find relief with medical marijuana,” said Morgan, founder of the ubiquitous Morgan & Morgan personal injury firm. “My brother, Tim, is a hardworking family man who should not have to suffer or live like a criminal. Like the majority of voters in Florida, I want sick and suffering patients like my brother to have the option to legally use medical marijuana.
“Over the past 2 years I’ve met so many people across our state that also NEED safe, legal access to medical marijuana. We are going to make sure that happens,” Morgan said.
“The Tallahassee politicians quit on us early,” Morgan said, referring to the House’s surprise move to adjourn the 2015 legislative Session early.
“I will not quit until the people of Florida have a comprehensive medical marijuana law. To show my commitment, I am going to match all online donations 9 to 1 from now until the end of December,” Morgan said.
Morgan spent about $4 million in an effort to liberalize Florida’s pot laws last year.
The group said in a statement Thursday it needs to collect about 500,000 more petitions before Dec. 31 in order to meet the deadline for inclusion on the 2016 ballot.
“We are honored to have the backing of a man who is so compassionate and tenacious,” said United for Care campaign manager Ben Polara. “If someone donates $10, he’s going to put $90 on it: That’s phenomenal. It’s going to be tough, but I still think we can make the ballot before the end of the year.”
A similar measure came just short of the required 60 percent vote for approval during the 2014 elections. It garnered about 57.6 percent of the vote in a midterm election that was disastrous for Democrats including former Gov. Charlie Crist, a longtime friend and employee of Morgan who was narrowly defeated in his bid to oust Gov. Rick Scott.
Advocates for the medical pot push say they have retooled their initiative’s language to quell criticisms that the amendment was too vague.
