burnin1
Well-Known Member
From miamiherald.com
Bankrolled by big donors, Florida ballot battle over medical marijuana heats up
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmvwtWc48hU[/ame]
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCoSrIBZtq4[/ame]
By Michael Auslen
Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau
TALLAHASSEE
Come Nov. 8, Florida could be the 26th state to legalize full-strength medical marijuana for patients with cancer, epilepsy and a host of other conditions.
That gives supporters and opponents of Amendment 2 just five weeks to persuade voters and theyve started in earnest, pumping millions of dollars from wealthy donors into TV ads, mailings and recruiting big-name endorsers.
Pro-medical marijuana group United for Care has logged $5.2 million since 2015, most of it from large donors, including a $1 million contribution last week from pot activist group New Approach.
The biggest donor is Orlando trial lawyer John Morgan, whose firm has spent $2.7 million to get the amendment on the ballot this November and has funded radio ads statewide. On a similar measure in 2014, Morgan spent $4 million, but he does not intend to be United for Cares sole source of money going forward.
Johns position and mine, too is, I got us here. Lets let other people finish us out, said campaign manager Ben Pollara. Unless I absolutely need it, Im not asking him for another cash donation.
A poll released last week by the Florida Chamber shows 73 percent of likely voters support Amendment 2, well above the 60-percent threshold required to put it in the state Constitution.
But opponents of the amendment are hitting back hard.
Already a group called Drug Free Florida Committee has spent more than $1.7 million buying TV advertising, relying on $1 million donations from St. Petersburg developer Mel Sembler and Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson.
Their newest ad, released Monday and set to broadcast in all of the states media markets, says Amendment 2 will allow for pot packaged like candy marketed to kids.
On Friday, the groups No on 2 campaign announced support from state Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, who faces only a write-in opponent in the general election and is ready to spend the lions share of his campaign funds to defeat Amendment 2. Hes starting with a $100,000 ad buy this week in the Tampa Bay area.
I just see too many opportunities for abuse, said Latvala, who will be the Senate budget chairman next year. Im concerned that the Constitution is permanent. I just think that thats a big risk were talking about with this amendment.
A similar constitutional amendment failed in 2014 with 58 percent support after a contentious fight. The battle brewing this year likely will look familiar.
Opponents have varying concerns: That Florida will see an explosion of pot shops on every corner, state and local lawmakers wont be able to regulate the program and that the issue should be left up to the Legislature, not a constitutional amendment. Some, including Latvala, oppose medical marijuana outright.
In advertising that will begin this week, supporters are likely to showcase stories of sick patients who have been helped by marijuana and families desperate to try the drug as a treatment for loved ones.
Since the 2014 election, a medical marijuana program went into effect in Florida to provide strains of the drug low in THC the chemical that causes a euphoric high for some patients, including children with severe epilepsy and cancer. Floridas first low-THC cannabis went on sale in July.
This spring, Gov. Rick Scott signed a law that allows doctors to recommend full-strength medical marijuana for patients within one year of death. It is expected this fall for terminal patients.
Medical pots supporters hoped the Florida Legislature would pass a broader medical marijuana law. Now, they see Amendment 2 as their best hope.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsrhP5Klmmc[/ame]
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIBjYXFWBR4[/ame]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIBjYXFWBR4
Bankrolled by big donors, Florida ballot battle over medical marijuana heats up
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmvwtWc48hU[/ame]
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCoSrIBZtq4[/ame]
By Michael Auslen
Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau
TALLAHASSEE
Come Nov. 8, Florida could be the 26th state to legalize full-strength medical marijuana for patients with cancer, epilepsy and a host of other conditions.
That gives supporters and opponents of Amendment 2 just five weeks to persuade voters and theyve started in earnest, pumping millions of dollars from wealthy donors into TV ads, mailings and recruiting big-name endorsers.
Pro-medical marijuana group United for Care has logged $5.2 million since 2015, most of it from large donors, including a $1 million contribution last week from pot activist group New Approach.
The biggest donor is Orlando trial lawyer John Morgan, whose firm has spent $2.7 million to get the amendment on the ballot this November and has funded radio ads statewide. On a similar measure in 2014, Morgan spent $4 million, but he does not intend to be United for Cares sole source of money going forward.
Johns position and mine, too is, I got us here. Lets let other people finish us out, said campaign manager Ben Pollara. Unless I absolutely need it, Im not asking him for another cash donation.
A poll released last week by the Florida Chamber shows 73 percent of likely voters support Amendment 2, well above the 60-percent threshold required to put it in the state Constitution.
But opponents of the amendment are hitting back hard.
Already a group called Drug Free Florida Committee has spent more than $1.7 million buying TV advertising, relying on $1 million donations from St. Petersburg developer Mel Sembler and Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson.
Their newest ad, released Monday and set to broadcast in all of the states media markets, says Amendment 2 will allow for pot packaged like candy marketed to kids.
On Friday, the groups No on 2 campaign announced support from state Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, who faces only a write-in opponent in the general election and is ready to spend the lions share of his campaign funds to defeat Amendment 2. Hes starting with a $100,000 ad buy this week in the Tampa Bay area.
I just see too many opportunities for abuse, said Latvala, who will be the Senate budget chairman next year. Im concerned that the Constitution is permanent. I just think that thats a big risk were talking about with this amendment.
A similar constitutional amendment failed in 2014 with 58 percent support after a contentious fight. The battle brewing this year likely will look familiar.
Opponents have varying concerns: That Florida will see an explosion of pot shops on every corner, state and local lawmakers wont be able to regulate the program and that the issue should be left up to the Legislature, not a constitutional amendment. Some, including Latvala, oppose medical marijuana outright.
In advertising that will begin this week, supporters are likely to showcase stories of sick patients who have been helped by marijuana and families desperate to try the drug as a treatment for loved ones.
Since the 2014 election, a medical marijuana program went into effect in Florida to provide strains of the drug low in THC the chemical that causes a euphoric high for some patients, including children with severe epilepsy and cancer. Floridas first low-THC cannabis went on sale in July.
This spring, Gov. Rick Scott signed a law that allows doctors to recommend full-strength medical marijuana for patients within one year of death. It is expected this fall for terminal patients.
Medical pots supporters hoped the Florida Legislature would pass a broader medical marijuana law. Now, they see Amendment 2 as their best hope.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsrhP5Klmmc[/ame]
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIBjYXFWBR4[/ame]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIBjYXFWBR4
