Pubdate: Wed, 03 Sep 2014
Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL)
Copyright: 2014 Orlando Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/325
Note: Rarely prints out-of-state LTEs.
Author: Scott Powers
Page: B3

MEDICAL-MARIJUANA OPPONENTS BLAST MORGAN'S PROFANE BARROOM SPEECH

Opponents of the medical-marijuana amendment accused chief promoter 
John Morgan of promoting "pot for everyone" during a profanity-laden 
speech caught on video last week.

In the video distributed Tuesday by the Vote No on 2 campaign, Morgan 
is shown giving a six-minute speech in a Lakeland bar crowded with 
young drinkers early Friday. The group called it "John Morgan 
unplugged and uncensored."

He jokes about smoking marijuana and his fear of medical marijuana 
opponent Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. Then he describes how 
marijuana helped his badly injured brother and urges patrons to vote 
yes on Amendment 2 on Nov. 4.

Morgan dropped expletives into most sentences, calling his opponents 
"whores." He appeared to egg on a rowdy crowd that cheered illegal 
pot use, chanted insults toward Judd and then offered to buy a round of drinks.

Sarah Bascom, spokesperson for the Vote No on 2 campaign said Morgan 
needs to apologize.

"We believe this video, in all of its offensive glory, shows John 
Morgan's real reasons behind his campaign to legalize marijuana. 
Their campaign has tried to be the moral authority on compassion, but 
clearly their chairman fell off the wagon ... This is not about sick 
Floridians; this is about pot for everyone," she said.

Morgan begins by calling his van a "marijuana bus."

"I didn't smoke a piece of grass all the way here," he said. "But 
I'll tell you this. Once I get some. Once I get outside the borders 
of Polk County, I might, I might smoke a lot of grass. I'm just 
scared [expletive] of Grady Judd."

Ben Pollara, campaign manager for the pro-Amendment 2 United For 
Care, said Morgan joked around but said nothing wrong. Pollara 
acknowledged Morgan "definitely had a few drinks" before being invited to talk.

Pollara also said the opponents edited out some of the video, 
including a spot in which Morgan praised Judd as "not a bad guy" and 
"a good sheriff."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom