Pubdate: Tue, 31 Mar 2009
Source: Pensacola News Journal (FL)
Copyright: 2009 The Pensacola News Journal
Contact: http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=OPINION0301
Website: http://www.pnj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1675
Author: Jim Ash
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/props.htm (Ballot Initiatives)

WOMAN PUSHES STATE MEDICAL MARIJUANA VOTE

TALLAHASSEE -- A self-described stay-at-home mom from  Orlando who 
wants better treatment options for her  ailing father is launching a 
drive to put medical  marijuana on the 2010 ballot.

Kim Russell, a third-generation Floridian and founder  of People 
United for Medical Marijuana, said she is not  a marijuana user and 
is not trying to get pot legalized  in Florida. She just wants her 
62-year-old father to  get the most-effective drug for his Parkinson's disease.

"It breaks my heart that he could not get medicine that  could help 
him avoid brain surgery," she said.

Sumter County Sheriff Bill Farmer, president of the  Florida Sheriffs 
Association, said his group is firmly  opposed: "It's only going to 
open up your state and  make it easier to get."

Russell estimates there are 1.7 million seriously ill  Floridians who 
could benefit from the medical use of  marijuana, everyone from 
breast cancer patients to  people suffering from glaucoma and chronic pain.

Using that population base, an average $5,000-per-year  prescription 
cost and an 8 percent sales tax, Russell  estimates the industry 
could generate $200 million a  year in direct revenue for Florida.

Russell said her group has budgeted $1.5 million to get  the 
initiative passed, but declined to say how much she  has raised. 
Collecting the more than 676,000 signatures  necessary will be 
difficult, she acknowledged, but she  is encouraged by recent news 
from the Obama  Administration.

Earlier this month, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder  announced that 
the Justice Department would no longer  target medical-marijuana 
dispensaries in 13 states that  have medical-marijuana laws.

The would be a departure from the Bush Administration,  which 
contended that the states are violating federal  statutes.

The proposed state constitutional amendment would  permit, "the 
cultivation, purchase, possession and use  of marijuana," to treat a 
host of ailments, "or other  diseases and conditions when recommended 
by a  physician."

Russell said the group may use paid petition gatherers.

"If we have to," she said. "Right now, we're using  volunteers."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom