Wear Pink With UFC

CHARIMAN, JOHN MORGAN, TO MATCH DONATIONS 9 TO 1 FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA PETITION

John Morgan, the Chairman of United for Care, has announced he will be matching all donations 9 to 1 in order to support the petition gathering process and to support patient's right to medical marijuana in FL.  Morgan is already the leading donor to the campaign and largely funded it's 2014 effort. John Morgan stated, 

“I started doing this because of my brother and father. During his last days, my father was able to find relief with medical marijuana. My brother, Tim, is a hardworking family man who should not have to suffer or live like a criminal. Like the majority of voters in Florida, I want sick and suffering patients like my brother to have the option to legally use medical marijuana. Over the past 2 years I’ve met so many people across our state that also NEED safe, legal access to medical marijuana. We are going to make sure that happens.

The Tallahassee politicians quit on us early. I will not quit until the people of Florida have a comprehensive medical marijuana law. To show my commitment, I am going to match all online donations 9 to 1 from now until the end of December.”
----------

United for Care needs to collect about 500,000 more petitions before Dec 31^st in order to meet the deadline to make the 2016 ballot.

----------

United for Care’s Campaign Manager, Ben Pollara, stated, “We are honored to have the backing of a man who is so compassionate and tenacious. If someone donates $10, he’s going to put $90 on it- that’s phenomenal. It’s going to be tough, but I still think we can make the ballot before the end of the year” here

For press inquiries please contact Bianca Garza at press@unitedforcare.org.

ELECTED OFFICIALS PROPOSE EXPANSION ON FAILING MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW; UNITED FOR CARE SAYS PROPOSAL IS IRRELEVANT, AMENDMENT STILL NEEDED

Today, Representative Matt Gaetz (R-4) and Senator Rob Bradley (R-7) filed a bill expanding on the already existing SB 1030 or “Charlotte’s Web” law. This new proposal would allow for marijuana with higher levels of THC, 

which the current law does not.

---------- 

Ben Pollara, Campaign Manager at United for Care, said, “The voters of Florida – and specifically,sick and suffering Floridians who are so desperate for medical marijuana – have no reason to trust the legislature to handle this effectively, and every reason NOT to. It’s great that our legislature is finally acknowledging that THC has medicinal value, but even if they manage to pass this bill – which we have no reason to believe they will – it doesn’t help enough people to obviate the need for a constitutional amendment.”

----------

Charlotte’s Web Law is still not implemented even though the law was passed two years ago, and the medicine was supposed to be available to qualified patients in January 2015.

---------- 

In announcing today’s legislation, Sen. Bradley was quoted as saying, “We need to make sure we do it right. If we just turn it over to a constitutional amendment, it will be taking a sledgehammer to an issue rather than a surgeon’s scalpel.”

---------- 

Pollara stated, in reaction, “A sledgehammer over the head may in fact be the only way for Floridians to have their voices heard by the largely deaf ears of Tallahassee politicians, who despite valiant efforts by courageous, thoughtful members like Sens. Bradley and Brandes and Reps. Gaetz, Steube and Edwards, have simply failed to enact meaningful laws on this issue.”

----------

For press inquiries please contact Bianca Garza at press@unitedforcare.org.

United for Care Looking For Medical Marijuana Refugees

Bianca A Garza, 

Hello everyone! As Director of Communications with United for Care. I am still looking for people who have left Florida for a state that allows medical use of marijuana. In other words, medical marijuana refugees. I'd like to hear and share these stories in order to help educate the community on why a medical marijuana law is so important in our state. If you know of anyone please give them my email: bianca@unitedforcare.org

United for Care Upset at Pasco County Decision to Pass Moratorium

In a unanimous decision, Pasco County commissioners voted to place a yearlong moratorium on medical marijuana. United for Care, the organization leading the charge in collecting petitions to put the decision of a comprehensive medical marijuana law before the voters in 2016 understands the difference between a ban and moratorium, but still finds the moratorium disappointing.

“We hoped that the commissioners of Pasco County would consider the needs of the patients and the detriment this yearlong moratorium could have on their citizens. Keeping medical marijuana treatment centers out of the county is not an effective way to bring safe access to their citizens,” said Ben Pollara, Campaign Manager of United the Care.

United for Care takes the position that local communities must decide what is best for themselves, but should do so in a way as to allow residents safe access to medical marijuana once it is available.

Mr. Pollara continued, “While we understand that local community leaders need to have discussions regarding new policies and do what’s best for their citizens, I think they’re jumping the gun. The commissioners are going to really hurt people who are in desperate need of relief. Hopefully they will reconsider and lift the moratorium soon."

For press inquiries please contact Bianca Garza at press@unitedforcare.org.

UNITED FOR CARE MEETS 100% GOAL

According to the Division of Elections website 73, 713 petitions have been verified. That’s 5,000 over the required amount to trigger the Supreme Court review.

Campaign Manager, Ben Pollara stated, “We are thrilled at this timely accomplishment.  This is the first major milestone to bringing medical marijuana before the Florida voters in November 2016.  In the next election, voters will succeed where their elected have failed them, and pass a comprehensive, compassionate medical marijuana law to serve the hundreds of thousands of sick and suffering people who are desperate for relief in our state. Without our volunteer efforts we would not be so well positioned to make the ballot in December.”

In order to be placed on the ballot United for Care needs the Supreme Court approval and to collect 683,149 valid petitions by Feb 1, 2016. Last election, ballot placement was not approved for the dedicated team until the final hour.
----------
Campaign Chairman, John Morgan, stated, “Compassion is coming in 2016! Tallahassee is broken, but I have faith in the people of Florida. We will win and hundreds of thousands will benefit as a result.”
----------- 

For press inquiries please contact Bianca Garza at press@unitedforcare.org 

United for Care: We have enough petitions for FL Supreme Court Review!

We have just hit 73,713 VALIDATED PETITIONS enough overall and in the required districts to trigger a Florida Supreme Court review of the petition.

----------
Our work is not done, however:  We must get another 609,436 validated petitions (and Supreme Court approval, which we expect) to be placed  on the 2016 ballot.
----------
Tomorrow is the beginning of the next phase 

and we need every bit of support we can get to collect the ballots we need.
----------
PLEASE make a contribution tonight before midnight and John Morgan will match it, doubling its power.

UNITED FOR CARE STATEMENT REGARDING MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION PETITION

Regulate Florida, a recently formed political committee, released a constitutional amendment petition to allow adult use of marijuana in Florida, under a regulatory structure similar to that which exists for alcohol. The organization led by longtime marijuana reform advocates, Karen Goldstein and Michael Minardi.

United for Care remains dedicated to the passage of a constitutional amendment to allow sick and suffering Floridians access to medical marijuana and has no official position on the legalization initiative. Campaign manager, Ben Pollara, issued the following statement regarding the new initiative:

----------

"I know firsthand that getting on the ballot by petition is a Herculean task that they are taking on, and I wish Karen and Michael the best of luck in this endeavor.” Pollara continued, “United for Care remains entirely dedicated to passing a strong medical marijuana law that serves sick and suffering Floridians, and we have not and will not take a position regarding this new amendment.”

“Perhaps our intellectually dishonest opponents will have to find a new argument to oppose medical marijuana now, given that their standard line of attack has been that this is a ‘trick’ to legalize marijuana. This campaign has always been and will always be about the needs of the sick and suffering among us."

----------

To date, United for Care has collected about 400,000 petitions, and 43,259 had been verified as of 5 pm on Wednesday. A constitutional amendment petition requires signatures from 683,149 registered voters.
----------

For press inquiries please contact 

Bianca Garza at press@unitedforcare.org.

United For Care In Downtown Tampa

Edgecomb Courthouse - Tampa

Have you signed yet?

here

Solidarity With Medical Marijuana In Tampa Today

 12PM

Hillsborough County Courthouse

Downtown Tampa

See you there!

Also At 
Miami-Dade County Courthouse
73 W Flagler St
Miami, FL 33130

Orange County Courthouse
425 N Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32801

Lake County Courthouse
550 W Main St
Tavares, FL 32778

Florida Capitol 
400 S Monroe St
Tallahassee, FL 32301

Broward County Courthouse
201 SE 6th St
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Pinellas County Justice Center
14250 49th St N
Clearwater, FL 33762

Osceola County Courthouse
2 Courthouse Sq
Kissimmee, FL 34741

West Pasco Judicial Center
7530 Little Rd
New Port Richey, FL 34654

Alachua County Civil Justice Center
201 E University Ave
Gainesville, FL 32601

Polk County Courthouse
255 N Broadway Ave
Bartow, FL 33830

Collier County Court house
3315 Tamiami Trl E
Naples , FL 34112

Citrus County Courthouse
110 N Apopka Ave, #101
Inverness, FL 34450

UNITED FOR CARE HOLDS DAY OF ACTION AT FLORIDA COURTHOUSES

August 14, 2015, Noon

HillsboroughCounty courthouse!

Also @ County courthouses in Leon, Alachua, Lake, Orange,

 Polk, Miami-Dade and Broward.

For press inquiries please contact Bianca Garza at press@unitedforcare.org.

United for Care Slams Marco Rubio

"It's unfortunate that Florida's senior senator and leading Republican presidential contender, Marco Rubio, has taken a position in clear opposition to the rights of the states to determine their own course on marijuana laws. As a Floridian, it seems to me Rubio is proactively telling our state that he doesn't respect the will of the people. Can you imagine if a President Rubio sent federal agents to Florida to raid legal marijuana businesses and patients in the case that he became president and we passed a constitutional amendment?" Ben Pollara

"This man will never be President." YCS
 Have you signed yet?

here

For press inquiries please contact Bianca Garza at press@unitedforcare.org.

United for Care T-Shirt

$25.00

100% of the proceeds from the United For Care store go directly to help medical marijuana legalization efforts in Florida. Thank you for your support! here

United For Care Tampa Bay Regional Office Grand Opening In Ybor

July 31 at 5:30pm

Common Bond Collaborative

Ybor City

info

Florida Have You Signed The Petition

The streets of Ybor

For medical marijuana?
here 

Florida Medical Marijuana 2016

Volunteer collecting signatures for petition at the 

Jan Platt Library in Tampa

Have you signed yet?

here

Pic Thanks to Mayra Figueroa

Huge Joint On A Boat In Temple Terrace

The Temple Terrace July 4th parade had a float with a "blunt" message, a giant marijuana joint on a boat. The folks at the Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance, Ellen Snelling and Amy Ronshausen were not happy. They might as well get use to it. They are on the wrong side of history and they know it.

 Thanks Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce, 

you guys are awesome! here

Have you signed the petition?

United for Care to Launch Statewide Paid Petition Drive

United for Care, the organization that brought medical marijuana to the ballot in 2014, is launching an aggressive, statewide petition drive to put medical marijuana back on the ballot in 2016.

The paid petitioning effort began this week and will be in full effect by July 1. This new, paid effort joins a volunteer based effort that has already collected tens of thousands of petitions since mid-January of this year.  Ultimately, 683,149 valid petitions need to be turned in by Supervisors of Elections to the Florida Department of State by February 1, 2016 in order to obtain ballot placement for the 2016 vote.  10% of that figure must be verified to trigger Supreme Court review.

"We collected over a million petitions in 2014 and nearly 3.4 million people voted “yes” for medical marijuana.  There is no question in my mind that we will get medical marijuana back on the ballot for 2016," said Ben Pollara, Campaign Manager for United for Care.

 The petition has only minor updates to its language - clarifying issues related to parental consent and the kinds of conditions that would qualify a potential patient, with a doctor's recommendation.

"The legislature had an opportunity to keep this off the ballot by passing a law. They turned their backs on the patients of Florida - but we can't and we won't.  We're going to win this war and help suffering Floridians in 2016," said John Morgan, Chairman of United for Care.

Morgan reiterated his commitment to seeing medical marijuana placed back before voters, “I will do whatever it takes to get this done. This is about compassion for hundreds of thousands of very sick people in Florida.”

Registered Florida voters who wish to sign the petition now, can fill it out, print it, and mail it in. Those who signed the petition in 2013 and 2014 must sign the new petition again, if they wish to see medical marijuana placed on the 2016 ballot. The petition can be found here: www.unitedforcare.org/petition

For press inquiries please contact Bianca Garza at press@unitedforcare.org 

John Morgan: Writing a Big Check

We all need to chip in. here

Volusia County decorated war veteran will face trial for using medical marijuana

On May 18^th, a decorated war veteran will face trial for using medical marijuana. Jared Hunter, desperate to save his own life when prescribed medications did not work, tried marijuana, and now he faces a jury trial in Volusia County before the Honorable Terence R. Perkins. here

“It is appalling that a man who risked his life to serve our country and protect our freedoms now has to fight for his freedom because he chose to use medical marijuana to treat his PTSD. PTSD is a debilitating condition specifically listed on the new petition, so when this passes dedicated soldiers such as Mr. Hunter will have the ability to go to their doctor and receive a recommendation for medical marijuana." Ben Pollara, Campaign Manager with United for Care.