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url: hMPp://jacksonville.com/news/2013-10-29/story/conservative-critics-begin-building-argument-against-medical-marijuana
TALLAHASSEE | A push to put language on the 2014 ballot legalizing medical marijuana is starting to face public opposition from conservative critics who argue the proposal is unconstitutional and does not offer the medical benefits proponents describe.
Saving Our Society from Drugs, a St. Petersburg Group that fights marijuana legalization proposals across the country, blasted the medical marijuana initiative in recently filed written testimony.
The group points to a study that says increased marijuana cultivation can have a negative environmental impact, the danger of drugged driving, and that the Federal Drug Administration does not regulate marijuana.
Simply put, crude marijuana does not meet the standards of modern medicine, read the testimony, which was written by Amy Ronshausen, the groups interim deputy director.
Her testimony was filed with the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, which is tasked with determining the proposed amendments economic impact.
Ben Pollara, campaign director of People United for Medical Marijuana, the group organizing the ballot initiative, said Ronshausen must not understand the purpose of the meeting.
Interim Deputy Director Ronshausens statements are ridiculous on their face and irrelevant to the ongoing fiscal impact estimating process, he said.
The offices economists estimate that a range of between 175,000 and 450,000 people would qualify for medical marijuana under the proposed ballot language. They came to that estimate by applying the experience in other states that passed various legalization measures to Floridas 2012 population.
Inflating the figures are those who use pain relievers for nonmedical purposes. During a Monday meeting, state economists said they estimate 676,090 Florida residents will be using a range of pain relievers, including marijuana, for nonmedical purposes by 2015.
That would push you to the 450,000 side of the range, said Amy Baker, the states top economist.
In addition, she said between 17,178 and 41,271 snowbirds would take advantage of legalized medical marijuana.
The testimony is Saving our Society from Drugs first public foray into Floridas medical marijuana debate.
It was founded by St. Petersburg developer and well-known GOP donor Mel Sembler, and has fought various marijuana initiatives across the country. It gave $284,871 to Smart Colorado, a group opposing a successful 2012 legalization initiative in that state. It was 40 percent of the groups contributions.
People United for Medical Marijuana's chairman is well-known Democratic trial lawyer John Morgan. He has contributed $250,000 of the groups nearly $400,000 in campaign contributions. They need nearly 700,000 signatures to get on the ballot and currently have nearly 200,000.
Semblers group has not given any contributions this cycle. In a July interview with the Times-Union, group officials said they expected to be outspent by Morgans group.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, a Republican, has also blasted the initiative.
Last week she publicly opposed the ballot initiative in a petition filed with the Florida Supreme Court. She said the ballot language was misleading and could allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana in limitless situations.
Under state law, the attorney general is required to ask the Supreme Court for an advisory opinion on any proposed ballot language. Pollara used Bondis petition to raise campaign contributions, blasting out a fundraising email shortly after Bondi filed her petition.
TALLAHASSEE | A push to put language on the 2014 ballot legalizing medical marijuana is starting to face public opposition from conservative critics who argue the proposal is unconstitutional and does not offer the medical benefits proponents describe.
Saving Our Society from Drugs, a St. Petersburg Group that fights marijuana legalization proposals across the country, blasted the medical marijuana initiative in recently filed written testimony.
The group points to a study that says increased marijuana cultivation can have a negative environmental impact, the danger of drugged driving, and that the Federal Drug Administration does not regulate marijuana.
Simply put, crude marijuana does not meet the standards of modern medicine, read the testimony, which was written by Amy Ronshausen, the groups interim deputy director.
Her testimony was filed with the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, which is tasked with determining the proposed amendments economic impact.
Ben Pollara, campaign director of People United for Medical Marijuana, the group organizing the ballot initiative, said Ronshausen must not understand the purpose of the meeting.
Interim Deputy Director Ronshausens statements are ridiculous on their face and irrelevant to the ongoing fiscal impact estimating process, he said.
The offices economists estimate that a range of between 175,000 and 450,000 people would qualify for medical marijuana under the proposed ballot language. They came to that estimate by applying the experience in other states that passed various legalization measures to Floridas 2012 population.
Inflating the figures are those who use pain relievers for nonmedical purposes. During a Monday meeting, state economists said they estimate 676,090 Florida residents will be using a range of pain relievers, including marijuana, for nonmedical purposes by 2015.
That would push you to the 450,000 side of the range, said Amy Baker, the states top economist.
In addition, she said between 17,178 and 41,271 snowbirds would take advantage of legalized medical marijuana.
The testimony is Saving our Society from Drugs first public foray into Floridas medical marijuana debate.
It was founded by St. Petersburg developer and well-known GOP donor Mel Sembler, and has fought various marijuana initiatives across the country. It gave $284,871 to Smart Colorado, a group opposing a successful 2012 legalization initiative in that state. It was 40 percent of the groups contributions.
People United for Medical Marijuana's chairman is well-known Democratic trial lawyer John Morgan. He has contributed $250,000 of the groups nearly $400,000 in campaign contributions. They need nearly 700,000 signatures to get on the ballot and currently have nearly 200,000.
Semblers group has not given any contributions this cycle. In a July interview with the Times-Union, group officials said they expected to be outspent by Morgans group.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, a Republican, has also blasted the initiative.
Last week she publicly opposed the ballot initiative in a petition filed with the Florida Supreme Court. She said the ballot language was misleading and could allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana in limitless situations.
Under state law, the attorney general is required to ask the Supreme Court for an advisory opinion on any proposed ballot language. Pollara used Bondis petition to raise campaign contributions, blasting out a fundraising email shortly after Bondi filed her petition.
