Monday, January 9, 2012

ARTICLE: Medical marijuana bills filed in Fla. House, Senate By Wire Report, Herald-Tribune Monday, January 9, 2012

Medical marijuana bills filed in Fla. House, Senate
By Wire Report, Herald-Tribune
Monday, January 9, 2012
VOTE IN POLL AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE ON WHETHER YOU THINK THESE BILLS SHOULD BE APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE
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By Anne Geggis
GAINESVILLE SUN

A state budget crunch that won’t quit, legislative reapportionment and gaming are expected to crowd the legislative season that starts in Tallahassee Tuesday — but for some, nothing has quite the same buzz as an effort to allow the medical use of marijuana.

It’s the second year in a row that legislation has been filed to start Florida on the path that 16 other states and the District of Columbia have taken, starting with California in 1996. And this year represents the first time that a bill allowing marijuana as a medicinal has been filed in both the House and the Senate.

For some from the home of “Gainesville Green” — a celebrated strain of marijuana — and the recently revived Hemp Fest — including those who have served jail time for being a “Doobie Tosser” — this legislation can’t come quickly enough.

House Joint Resolution 353 and Senate Joint Resolution 1028 propose that the question of allowing marijuana for medical use should appear on the 2012 ballot as a statewide referendum. If approved by at least 60 percent of the voters, the state constitution would be amended.

Never mind that neither of the bills has been scheduled for hearings. Jodi James, executive director of the Florida Cannabis Action Network, is, well, elated.

“This is the first time since 1978 that cannabis advocates will have a sustained presence in the Legislature,” said James, explaining that her Melbourne-based group has launched a website, www.fldecides.org in the effort.

Even more than advocating for the proposed legislation, James’ group is planning on petitioning Gov. Rick Scott, asking him to urge the Legislature to pass a bill that bypasses the constitutional amendment process and allows medical marijuana use in Florida.

“Sick and dying people need access to this medicine now,” James said.

But Sen. Steve Oelrich, R-Cross Creek, calls the proposed legislation “a sham.” Drug laws might need to be revamped, but allowing the use of marijuana under the guise of medical treatment is not the way to do it, he said.

“Let’s address the bigger issue and have a debate about that,” he said.

READ MORE ABOUT BILLS TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA

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