Pubdate: Mon, 20 Jan 2014
Source: Gainesville Sun, The (FL)
Copyright: 2014 The Gainesville Sun
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/yMmn4Ifw
Website: http://www.gainesville.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/163
Author: Andrew Skerritt

GOOD NEWS FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA SUPPORTERS

Supporters of a medical marijuana initiative had two big reasons to
cheer last week. But the real good news might not be what you suspect.

The group People United for Care, which is leading the drive to get
the medical marijuana question on the November ballot, announced last
week that it had collected more than 1.1 million signatures, many more
than it needed ahead of the Feb. 1 deadline. Thus far, 458,000
petitions have been validated on the way to the nearly 700,000 needed.

While that is great news for the John Morgan-led effort, there is
still the matter of getting the measure approved. Two hurdles await.
The state Supreme Court must first approve the ballot language. Given
opposition from Attorney General Pam Bondi (more on that later), the
court's green light is not assured. Neither is the voters'. Ballot
initiatives require 60 percent to pass.

That's why the events in Tallahassee on Thursday mean much more. On
Thursday, Rep. Matt Gaetz, chairman of the state House Criminal
Justice Subcommittee, held a hearing about the legalization of
Charlotte's Web, a specific strain of marijuana that has demonstrated
some success in the treatment of a severe form of epilepsy in
children. In voicing his support for this form of medical marijuana,
Gaetz, a limited-government Republican, said in an interview, "I don't
want government standing between parents and the care they need for
their children."

Even if the Gaetz's legislation goes nowhere, his sentiments can be
the dominant narrative over the next 10 months. The image of parents
and incapacitated children campaigning for relief can be a powerful
political weapon.

However, it must be noted that Gaetz opposes what he called the "John
Morgan financed" ballot initiative because it would lead to a pot
"dispensary on every corner" and anyone with high anxiety will be
begging doctors for a marijuana joint. He worried about the impact on
"the social fabric of our state."

Gaetz and other conservatives are comfortable making the distinction
between epileptic children and aging adults on chemotherapy. But who
decides who deserves relief?

Judging from Gaetz's contortions, it's clear that discussing medical
marijuana can tie conservatives in knots. Remember Attorney General
Bondi? An advocate of states rights whenever federal regulations clash
with her conservative ideology, Bondi claims that medical marijuana
use will still be illegal under federal law even if voters approve the
ballot initiative. That's hollow coming from one of the most strident
opponents of Obamacare and won't hold much sway with voters.

What will matter is if ballot backers can convince the electorate in
the pain-medication capital of the United States that medical
marijuana, though not a cure, can significantly improve the lives of
chronically ill patients.

They must reassure voters medical marijuana will not be a Trojan Horse
for the Colorado-style legalization of pot. The second task is much
harder.
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