Pubdate: Sat, 07 Jun 2014
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2014 The Tribune Co.
Contact: http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-letters/submit/
Website: http://tbo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446
Author: William March

TOP DEMOCRAT BLASTED FOR OPPOSING POT AMENDMENT

John Morgan Has Choice Words for Wasserman Schultz

TAMPA --- Top Florida Democrat Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz 
announced she opposes the proposed medical marijuana constitutional 
amendment, drawing an angry response Friday from another of the 
party's most important state figures - Orlando lawyer John Morgan.

Morgan has bankrolled the amendment campaign and is a chief supporter 
of Charlie Crist in his bid for governor.

The state Republican Party seized on the rift, accusing Morgan - and 
by association, Crist - of sexism for criticizing Wasserman Schultz. 
Wasserman Schultz is head of the Democratic National Committee and 
has represented the Miami area's 23rd Congressional district since 2005.

Morgan unleashed a barrage of words Friday after Wasserman Schultz's 
office issued a statement Thursday on her opposition to the amendment.

In an interview with the Miami Herald, Morgan called her "an 
irritant" who is "despised" by national political leaders.

"She is the new Allen West of South Florida. ... She should just 
become a bridesmaid for Pam Bondi's next wedding."

West is a conservative political commentator and one-term Florida 
congressman, and Bondi is Florida's attorney general. Both are Republicans.

Via email, Morgan confirmed to the Tribune the accuracy of the Herald quotes.

"All true," he wrote. "I will never help her again."

Since shortly after he left the governor's office at the end of 2010, 
Crist has worked for Morgan's Orlando-based personal injury law firm, 
Morgan & Morgan.

A long-time backer of Crist even before Crist switched from 
Republican to Democrat, Morgan has contributed almost $4 million to 
the marijuana amendment campaign and is likely to be one of Crist's 
top financial supporters.

Wasserman Schultz uses the same argument against the amendment pushed 
by a newly formed opposition group, saying it's "written too broadly 
and stops short of ensuring strong regulatory oversight from state 
officials," particularly considering the state's history as a center 
of the illicit trade in narcotic painkillers.

She said it opens the door for marijuana to be dispensed for almost 
anything a user claims is wrong.

The amendment says a patient can obtain marijuana if a physician 
certifies the patient has a "debilitating medical condition." That's 
defined as one of a list of major diseases including cancer and AIDS, 
or "other conditions for which a physician believes that the medical 
use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks."

Wasserman Schultz said in her statement she supports "evidence-based 
medical marijuana treatment" including use of a derivative low in 
marijuana's euphoria-causing chemical to treat cancer pain and 
epileptic seizures in children, and backs a bill for that purpose 
passed by the Legislature this spring.

Morgan scoffed at her argument, suggesting Wasserman Schultz doesn't 
know the definition of "debilitating" or doesn't respect the Supreme 
Court, which rejected that argument in allowing the amendment on the ballot.

Republicans blasted Morgan's language as sexist, focusing on the 
bridesmaid comment, and said Crist has a "problem with women" because 
he has refused to debate his dark-horse primary opponent, former 
state Sen. Nan Rich.

"Coupled with Charlie Crist's favorite put-down of Democratic 
opponent 'God bless her' Nan Rich, Charlie's problem with women just 
got bigger," said party spokeswoman Susan Hepworth. Crist uses the 
phrase frequently when discussing those he disagrees with.

Asked whether she considers the comment sexist, Rich said, "He 
dismisses me. Whether he's doing that because I'm a woman you'd have 
to ask him. But it's kind of condescending, like patting somebody on the head."

Rich said she has backed the medical marijuana amendment from the 
outside and strongly disagrees with Wasserman Schultz, but added, "I 
don't like the way he (Morgan) referred to her."

The two women are longtime political allies. Wasserman Schultz said 
she's neutral in the primary, but Rich said the "Democratic Party 
establishment certainly has not been neutral," noting a $500,000 
contribution to Crist from the party's campaign committee on governor's races.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom