James Call
Pollsters continue to tell Floridians they overwhelming support the idea of allowing marijuana to be used as medicine. A Gravis Insights poll conducted last week found 64 percent of respondents said they would support a 2016 ballot initiative which read:
Allows medical use of marijuana for individuals with debilitating medical conditions as determined by a licensed Florida physician. Allow 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 immunize violations of federal law or any non-medical use, possession or production of marijuana.
Amendment 2 which would have authorized the use of marijuana as a medicine failed to win the 60 percent of the vote in November needed to be implemented. The 58-percent it did received encouraged proponents to launch a two-prong strategy to change the state’s marijuana regulations.
In January, United for Care, which led the push for Amendment 2, started gathering petitions for a 2016 ballot initiative and its affiliate Florida for Care is working to get the legislature to approve wider use of cannabis as medicine.
The Gravis poll was conducted a couple of days after Sen. Jeff Brandes filed a medicinal marijuana bill that was applauded by medicinal marijuana proponents.
“Floridians have spoken on the issue of medical marijuana and Sen. Brandes has heard them,” said Ben Pollara, the executive director of the United for Care.
Pollara called the Brandes bill, “A tremendous step toward passing a medicinal marijuana law without having to bring the issue back to voters in 2016.”
Brandes proposes authorizing a physician to use marijuana in treating 14 ailments including eight specific medical conditions; HIV, AIDS, epilepsy, ALS, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s and Parkinson’s diseases as well as “any physical medical condition or treatment for a medical conditions that chronically produces wasting syndrome, and severe and persistent pain, seizures, nausea and muscle spasms.
It has received the support of his hometown Sheriff, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtier. And the president of the Florida Sheriff’s Association told the Tampa Bay Times he thinks most county sheriffs will also support the Brandes bill.
David Shoar is sheriff of St. Johns County and said given how close the vote was last year it may be best if lawmakers take up medicinal marijuana rather than leave it to a public vote.
“We want to do it the right way – through passage of law,” said Shoar.
The FSA had campaigned against Amendment 2.
Of the 693 respondents to the Gravis poll political 37 percent were Democratic voters, 36 percent Republican and 27 percent identified themselves as either independent or other party affiliation.
They were surveyed Jan. 28 – 29.
“I think it’s more significant that the sheriffs are talking about supporting Brandes’ bill,” said Ron Watson, a former Florida Medical Association lobbyist, while discussing marijuana issues for the upcoming legislative session.
Watson exclusively works the marijuana issue.
“Now, if we could get the doctors aboard,” said Watson.
Thirty-seven percent of Gravis respondents said the FMA’s position on the issue mattered. Thirty-one percent said the FMA would not affect their level of support.
