With Tallahassee incapable (to date) of passing a truly comprehensive medical
marijuana law, it is clearer than ever that it will be left to us to provide
medical marijuana access to the hundreds of thousands of sick and suffering
patients that need help.
So I want to be clear on one major difference between the 2014 and
2016 petitions:
In 2014, our opposition falsely claimed that people with nearly any condition
("headaches and hangnails" they liked to say) would be considered a qualifying
patient. We never agreed with that misrepresentation - and neither did the
Florida Supreme Court.
However, backed by an out-of-state billionaire, they
convinced a lot of voters it was true.
In the 2016 petition, we simply clarified what the Supreme Court said and
what our intent was: only people with serious, debilitating conditions would
have access. As before, a doctor will be able to recommend marijuana for a patient,
whether or not that patient's particular disease or condition is listed in the
amendment language itself. We could not list every possible debilitating
condition and didn't need to: It's not more limited or more restrictive. It's
just clearer. The Legislature has proven itself unwilling to address what 24 other states
have, so it's likely going to be back on the ballot - and this time we'll get
the 60% we need to win.
If you've already contributed, please make sure you have signed the petition
(here) and, please share this email with
at least a few of your friends.
- Ben Pollara