Pubdate: Sun, 01 Dec 2013
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2013 The Tribune Co.
Contact: http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-letters/
Website: http://www.tampatrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446
Author: Paula Dockery
Page: 2
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n561/a07.html

LANGUAGE FOR POT INITIATIVE IS CLEAR; BUT FOES' MOTIVE IS SMOKY

According to a recent Quinnipiac poll, Floridians support legalizing
marijuana for medicinal purposes by a whopping 82-16 margin, crossing
all party lines.

Frustrated by decades of inaction by the Florida Legislature, citizens
have taken it into their own hands to put the issue directly before
voters through a citizens' initiative to amend the Florida
Constitution.

The question should be whether Florida wants to join 20 other states
and the District of Columbia in making medical marijuana available to
its residents suffering from debilitating illnesses.

Instead, those in Florida leadership positions in both the legislative
and executive branches are busy trying to prevent the issue from
making it to the ballot by filing briefs before the Florida Supreme
Court.

Their goal is to have the Marijuana Citizens Initiative removed from
ballot consideration even if the necessary 684,000 signatures are gathered.

Over the past two decades, the Legislature has opposed addressing any
form of legalization of marijuana; it has made a concerted effort to
Limit citizens' initiatives and has used legislatively proposed
constitutional amendments to drive voter turnout.

Florida was so serious about seeking medical cures that a 2003 special
session was called for the purpose of awarding Scripps Research
Institute $310 million of federal stimulus funds to lure the research
facility to Florida.

We also take pain medication addiction very seriously in Florida,
establishing some of the most stringent regulations to curb the abuse
of prescription drugs through legislation intended to stop the
proliferation of "pill mills."

Yet, legislative leaders refuse to consider the use of medical
marijuana despite the growing body of medical evidence as to its
beneficial uses. Among those uses, medical marijuana has been touted
as successful for fighting nausea, increasing appetite for those under
radiation treatment for cancer, and treating muscle tightness for
thoce with multiple sclerosis.

Also in play is the Legislature's disdain of citizens' rights to
direct democracy, when elected officials refuse to listen to the
public will through representative democracy. This was apparent in
2002, 2004, and 2006, when the Florida Legislature proposed three
constitutional amendments making it more difficult for citizens to use
the initiative process to amend their constitution. It also raised the
threshold for passage of all constitutional amendments to 60 percent.
There were a plethora of statutory changes as well to try to curb
those pesky attempts by citizens.

Ironically, the Legislature, not citizens, have placed the majority of
constitutional amendments on the ballot. From 1978 to 2012, the
Legislature was responsible for 77 ballot measures compared to 28 for
all citizen groups combined. In the 2012 election, the Legislature
proposed all 11 ballot amendments.

And, of course, there are the political ramifications.

The Florida attorney general, joined by the Florida Senate president
and the speaker of the Florida House, is challenging the wording of
the proposed marijuana amendment, claiming that the ballot summary and
title are misleading.

I trust that Floridians are smart enough to understand that this
amendment would allow doctors to prescribe marijuana for medicinal
purposes. Further, the Legislature retains the ability to regulate its
use through statutory means.

Cynically, one might question legislators' sincerity, as their own
proposed amendments have been much more confusing to voters. Take, for
example, this title on the 2012 ballot: "Property Tax Limitations;
Property Value Decline; Reduction for Nonhomestead Assessment
Increases; Delay of Scheduled Repeal." Clear as mud.

The title that is being disputed? "Use of Marijuana for Certain
Medical Conditions."

An accusation frequently made is that well-known attorney John Morgan,
who is leading this effort to legalize marijuana for medical purposes,
is a close friend and employer of gubernatorial candidate Charlie
Crist and that his motivation is to help turn out the vote. But
although medical marijuana may play a factor in turnout, the recent
poll shows that support crosses all party lines.

In control for the past 18 years, Republicans have placed tax relief
and social issues such as abortion, religious freedom and gambling on
the ballot in an effort to turn out their own base. Not a bad strategy.

To the official talking points of Republican leaders in the executive
and legislative branches that they are challenging the language to
protect voters from being misled, I say baloney.

The legislative session starts in March, when legislators can easily
rewrite language to remove any perceived confusion. They also have the
ability to legalize medical marijuana by statute, making the
constitutional amendment unnecessary. But don't hold your breath.
Legislators' failure to act is a clear indication they don't want it
to pass despite overwhelming public support.

Missing in all this .political gamesmanship is the willingness to give
relief, inexpensively and with very little risk, to those suffering
with debilitating illness.

So stop the posturing and lead on this issue or just get out of the
way and let the people do it.

Paula Dockery is a syndicated columnist who served in the Florida
Legislature for 16 years as a Republican from Lakeland.
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MAP posted-by: Matt