Pubdate: Fri, 16 May 2014
Source: Palm Beach Post, The (FL)
Copyright: 2014 The Palm Beach Post
Contact:  http://www.palmbeachpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/333
Author: John Kennedy
Page: B2

ANTI-MEDICAL MARIJUANA CAMPAIGN GETS $100,000

TALLAHASSEE - The Vote No on 2 campaign was launched Thursday,
opposing the medical marijuana constitutional amendment slated for the
November ballot.

Early leaders of the effort include Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, a
Brevard County doctor and wife of former Senate President Mike
Haridopolos, Florida Sheriffs Association leaders and Tre Evers, a
Republican political consultant from Orlando and former official in
President George W. Bush's administration.

The campaign's financing so far comes from the Drug Free Florida
Committee, recently launched with a $100,000 check from Republican
donor Mel Sembler, a St. Petersburg developer.

But Republican politics swirling around medical marijuana have grown
complicated. The GOP-led Legislature gave the green light this month
to a measure legalizing a strain of non-euphoric medical marijuana to
be used by cancer patients and those suffering from severe epilepsy.

The effort was widely seen as directed at potentially blunting support
for the November ballot proposal - which some see as bringing some
voters to the polls that may be more inclined to vote for Democrat
Charlie Crist over Republican Gov. Rick Scott.

The petition drive that created the ballot measure was spearheaded and
largely financed by John Morgan, the Orlando trial lawyer who employs
Crist.

The governor has said he will sign the non-euphoric strain into law.
But he is opposed to the more sweeping constitutional amendment that
would allow sufferers from a wide range of illnesses to obtain
prescription pot.

The Vote No on 2 campaign isn't mentioning the legislation headed to
the governor, although those close to Sembler say he opposes any
effort to soften Florida drug laws.

The campaign condemns the ballot proposal as a "cleverly veiled
attempt to legalize marijuana in Florida for anyone and for any reason."

Vote No is up with a website: VoteNo2.org. But as the campaign
unfolds, organizers are expected to weigh-in with TV spots opposing
the ballot measure.
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MAP posted-by: Matt