James Call
Pollsters continue to detect overwhelming support among Floridians for allowing marijuana to be used as medicine. A Gravis Insights poll conducted this past week found 64 percent of respondents said they would back a 2016 ballot initiative that 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 receive 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 after state Sen. Jeff Brandes filed a medical marijuana bill a week ago 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, executive director of 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 condition 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. Also, the president of the Florida Sheriffs Association told the Tampa Bay Times he thinks most county sheriffs will also support the Brandes bill.
David Shoar, St. Johns County sheriff, said given how close the vote was this past 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,” Shoar said.
The FSA had campaigned against Amendment 2.
Of the 693 respondents to the Gravis poll, 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 and 29.
“I think it’s more significant that the sheriffs are talking about supporting Brandes’ bill,” Ron Watson, a former Florida Medical Association lobbyist, said while discussing marijuana issues for the upcoming legislative session.
Watson exclusively works the marijuana issue.
“Now, if we could get the doctors aboard,” Watson said.
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.
