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MANATEE'S SHERIFF SAYS MEDICAL MARIJUANA ISSUE ISN'T GOING AWAY

BRADENTON -- Though Amendment 2 failed to pass, which would have legalized medical marijuana, the issue is still not over in Manatee County Sheriff Brad Steube's eyes.

The county's top law enforcement officer spoke to a crowd of about 200 on Thursday evening for "Supper with the Sheriff" at Police Athletic League, 202 12th Ave.  E., Bradenton.

"We defeated this but I'm not sure since 57 percent of the public in Florida still passed it," he said.  "You can call it a defeat if you want but they just didn't get their 60 percent.  ...  It's not over.  Please don't think that it is over because it's not over."

Steube, who lobbied against legalizing marijuana for medical use at the last "Supper with the Sheriff" on May 1, said he and other sheriffs throughout the state worked hard to deliver their message against the proposed constitutional amendment.

On Nov.  5, Steube said he and other Florida sheriffs talked about medical marijuana on a conference call.

"We're actually talking about a group of Florida sheriffs going to the Florida Legislature and trying to work with them to create a bill that will be palatable for every

one on both sides of this issue," he said.  "I don't think that there's a soul in this room that doesn't have the compassion in your heart that would say, if medical marijuana can't help someone, that we don't need to be doing that.  ...  however, I also don't think that there's a person in this room that believes that the smoking of marijuana helps anyone."

Steube said medical marijuana did not have to be the focus of a constitutional amendment.

Marie Hall, 42, and her husband, Bob Hall, 44, said they agreed with Steube's remarks on medical marijuana.

"I'm glad it didn't go through because I think a lot of people would have taken advantage of it," she said.

Bob Hall said the issue wasn't a medical one.

"It's an issue of the loopholes that were in it -- that anybody can get it," he said.  "I wouldn't want that as a parent, or as somebody that has young kids in the family."

In addition to his points on medical marijuana, Steube also responded to a wide array of questions from citizens ranging from road-related issues to crime in their neighborhoods.

Remonia Lewis of Bradenton spoke up for a neighbor whose house has been broken into multiple times.  She wanted help from the sheriff's office.

"Citizens have a right to express their complaints or what they have problems with and I think that everyone should listen and if you can address the issues for them," she said.  "If I ask you to do something, I want to see it done.  Don't give me a lot of excuses."