# Florida medical marijuana ballot initiative 2014 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 27, 2014, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870 "2014-01-27T18:25:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/1 "2014-01-27T18:25:07Z")
[Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative (2014)](http://ballotpedia.org/Florida_Right_to_Medical_Marijuana_Initiative_(2014)) > [@](#): > > The Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative may appear on the November 4, 2014, ballot in the state of Florida as an initiated constitutional amendment. The measure, upon voter approval, would legalize the cultivation, purchase, possession and use of marijuana to treat medical conditions when recommended by a licensed physician. The measure would also order the Florida Department of Health to register and regulate producers and distributions of medical marijuana and to issue identification cards to patients and caregivers utilizing marijuana.[1] [Enough petition signatures have been collected to put it on the ballot.](http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/florida-voters-meet-signature-requirements-for-medical-marijuana-initiative-010114459.html) However, [Florida AG Pam Bondi is still fighting to keep it off the ballot](http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2013/10/pam-bondi-challenges-proposed-medical-marijuana-amendment.html). ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/2 "2014-01-27T18:30:51Z")
Fingers crossed. Not because I think it’s an efficacious therapy (I have no idea), but because there’s no reason not to allow it. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/3 "2014-01-28T17:10:48Z")
[The Supreme Court approved the ballot measure.](http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/medical-marijuana-to-go-to-ballot-florida-supreme-court-rules/2162912) On to November. I’m thinking a lot of conservative retirees might vote for this just because they need it. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/4 "2014-01-28T18:34:06Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [The Supreme Court approved the ballot measure.](http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/medical-marijuana-to-go-to-ballot-florida-supreme-court-rules/2162912) On to November. > > I’m thinking a lot of conservative retirees might vote for this just because they need it. The quotes in that story from people opposed to MM are hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/5 "2014-01-28T18:37:15Z")
Well, it’s true that John Morgan is Charlie Crist’s boss. This seems like a really inefficient way of getting Crist voters to the polls though. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/6 "2014-01-29T15:05:51Z")
There’s a minor CT making the rounds that Tampa attorney John Morgan circulated this ballot petition solely to pump up turnout for the Democrats in November. I dunno. But FWIW, incumbent Republican Governor Rick Scott has said he’ll vote against the measure, and challenger Democrat (this time around) and ex-Gov Charlie Crist says he’ll vote for it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/7 "2014-01-29T15:34:11Z")
That was alluded to in the article you linked to and I specifically responded to it above. 😉 Morgan lives and works in Orlando, by the way. He has offices in Tampa and like 20 other places. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/8 "2014-01-29T17:25:00Z")
We managed to get Florida to go for Obama, this should be a piece of cake. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/9 "2014-01-29T17:41:56Z")
I don’t have strong feelings about MM either way, but my impression of Florida voters is that this initiative sounds like an extreme longshot for passage. I can’t imagine my grandparents in Fr. Myers voting for it if they were still alive. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/10 "2014-01-29T17:48:17Z")
Fortunately, the outcome of the vote won’t depend on the views of dead people. 😉 This is a much more purple state than the views of voters in Fort Myers or Jacksonville would suggest. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/11 "2014-01-29T18:06:40Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > That was alluded to in the article you linked to and I specifically responded to it above. 😉 Morgan lives and works in Orlando, by the way. He has offices in Tampa and like 20 other places. I guess I think of him as a Tampa boy because his advertising is all over the place 'round here. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/12 "2014-01-29T23:00:56Z")
Since he has offices in Tampa and Orlando, maybe he should change his slogan to “I-4 the People”. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2014, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/13 "2014-01-29T23:02:51Z")
_groan_ ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/14 "2014-02-07T18:30:41Z")
Well, if my 91 year-old Floridian grandmother’s knowledge on the subject is any indication, it’s got a ways to go… Recent conversation: G: “Did you hear about the actor who just died…overdosed on marijuana?” Me: “You mean heroin, Grandma?” G: “Right…,heroin, whatever…” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/15 "2014-02-07T21:44:55Z")
> [@Mixolydian](#): > > Well, if my 91 year-old Floridian grandmother’s knowledge on the subject is any indication, it’s got a ways to go… > > Recent conversation: > G: “Did you hear about the actor who just died…overdosed on marijuana?” > Me: “You mean heroin, Grandma?” > G: “Right…,heroin, whatever…” Drugs is drugs. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/16 "2014-02-07T22:35:34Z")
> [@Mixolydian](#): > > Well, if my 91 year-old Floridian grandmother’s knowledge on the subject is any indication, it’s got a ways to go… > > Recent conversation: > G: “Did you hear about the actor who just died…overdosed on marijuana?” > Me: “You mean heroin, Grandma?” > G: “Right…,heroin, whatever…” “You sure it wasn’t (insert name of one of her drugs here)?” Do this EVERY TIME she throws something like that out there. ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/17 "2014-02-08T01:07:15Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > “You sure it wasn’t (insert name of one of her drugs here)?” > > Do this EVERY TIME she throws something like that out there. I did tell her about the dramatic rise in prescription drug overdoses, which I think she grasped. Not meaning to disparage her…she’s always been pretty sharp; this is a recent development. I don’t know if she would have confused all illicit drugs a year ago. I just thought it was funny. On the other hand, I remember years ago when I went to Belmont racetrack in NY with my (now deceased) grandfather…a pair of teens sitting in front of us in the stands lit up a joint, and he nearly lost it. So, there’s some of that generation down here (“The Greatest Generation”) on whom “Reefer Madness” made quite a strong impact. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/18 "2014-02-08T01:35:53Z")
> [@Mixolydian](#): > > I did tell her about the dramatic rise in prescription drug overdoses, which I think she grasped. > > Not meaning to disparage her…she’s always been pretty sharp; this is a recent development. I don’t know if she would have confused all illicit drugs a year ago. I just thought it was funny. > > On the other hand, I remember years ago when I went to Belmont racetrack in NY with my (now deceased) grandfather…a pair of teens sitting in front of us in the stands lit up a joint, and he nearly lost it. So, there’s some of that generation down here (“The Greatest Generation”) on whom “Reefer Madness” made quite a strong impact. On the other hand, based on my personal experience, this might pass The Villages by a LOT… ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/19 "2014-02-08T18:32:27Z")
I hope it passes. We need states to keep passing laws like this until the feds are forced to confront the stupidity of a [Schedule I classification](http://www.justice.gov/dea/druginfo/ds.shtml) for marijuana. > [@](#): > > Schedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Schedule I drugs are the most dangerous drugs of all the drug schedules with potentially severe psychological or physical dependence. Hey feds! Can ya read? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-medical-marijuana-ballot-initiative-2014/679870/20 "2014-02-09T00:23:50Z")
> [@Mixolydian](#): > > So, there’s some of that generation down here (“The Greatest Generation”) on whom “Reefer Madness” made quite a strong impact. Y’know, I recall an early scene in _RM_ where a the antipot-crusading pastor sits down with the head of the local FBI office, who tells him, “I share your concerns, but you must understand, marijuana is not like other forms of dope! It grows wild in almost every state of the Union! Consequently, there is almost no interstate traffic in it.” And I imagine at least some in the audience were thinking: "Grows wild in . . . "Did not know that . . . “Guess what we’re gonna do today, Ferb?!” 🙂