Pubdate: Fri, 14 Nov 2014
Source: Bradenton Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2014 Bradenton Herald
Contact: http://www.bradenton.com/submit-letter/
Website: http://www.bradenton.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/58
Author: Amaris Castillo

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."
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