Validated! On the Ballot in Fla in Nov 2014

[Tudo]

<TABLE class=yiv3886618350container style="MARGIN-TOP: 30px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(255,255,255)" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=600 bgColor=#ffffff><TBODY><TR><TD> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=yiv3886618350body-content>Dear Tudo,
It's official: The Supervisors of Elections have validated enough of our submitted signatures to place us on the ballot in November - more than the 683,149 we needed and in the required number of congressional districts.
This is an amazing feat. I have to admit, less than a year ago I never thought we'd see this day - but thanks to your support and hard work, we were able to make history together. I want to thank everyone involved in this campaign - particularly our staff, donors, petition collectors and volunteers - for making this possible.
The only thing holding up official certification and placement on the ballot is the ruling by the Florida Supreme Court, which could come anytime between now and April 1.
But we can't stop for a minute - an even greater task is at hand. We must make sure that at least 60% of Florida voters support the Amendment come November 4th.
One of our key donors, Barbara Steifel, has generously offered to match any donation you make between now and 11:59 pm, January 31st.
Please be a matching donor before then by clicking here to contribute.
That task is going to require a very quick ramp up of this campaign - and it's going to be expensive.
I need to raise $20,000 before the end of the month so we can get this new phase of the campaign off the ground.
Please contribute here before the end of the month and help us reach our $20k goal.
Thank you, again, to everyone who helped us pass this critically important point in the campaign. Together we will bring medical marijuana to the thousands and thousands of seriously ill Floridians who are desperate for relief.
Ben Pollara
Campaign Manager
United for Care
www.unitedforcare.org
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[Hugh Midity]

finally we're geeting somewhere. thanks for the update tudo

 

[Drift13]

All I can say is

 

[oldchuck]

I hear that Morgan was paying workers $4 per signature. That must have been a fun job and good money too.

Any of you Florida people have any thoughts on how the court will go?

 

[Arthritis_sucks]

Woooohooooo Florida!!!!


Post 2000


edit: No good if its a no grow bill, I would get out and vote no if this isn't changed. Urge the writer to change it if its not to late.

 

[higherthanmost]

Great news! Keep up the good fight.

 

[StayHigh149]

Great news. Hopefully all goes thru!

Looks like I'll be moving back there within the next year or so & this is just icing on the cake.

 

[DTFuqua]

Thoughts? That is just the next opportunity for the MAN to screw us. AS this bill will screw us with patients not allowed to grow for themselves. My disability is just 5??.00 and I won't be able to afford anything at a dispensary.

 

[oldchuck]

People will continue to grow their own no matter what the law says. Hopefully, with all the confused political noise on the subject, fewer people will go to jail for it.

 

[Arthritis_sucks]

Its a no grow bill?

 

[grojo]

I was never going to post on this site after what has happened to OG but with the laws changing in are favor more each day, how could I not make my first post about my state on its way to make this a legal
Who would of ever thought this would happen in the deep south. Things are looking better for us and each and everyone that's made this possibly deserves a medal of honor for the cause and for doing the impossible. Also I think when Florida becomes legal we are going to have some nice strains most never herd of or seen come to the light, I know I have had some of those private stashes and proud to sample them on a regular basis.

 

[iBogart]

Its a no grow bill?

Yep.

 

[StayHigh149]

My philosphy??? Gotta start somewhere. Any progress is still progress.

If a bill says medical is ok with a doc's rec but u can't grow ur own....will u stop growing? I would still grow. So, how would a med bill put me in a worse situation? It wouldn't cuz Imma b growing either way.

I don't understand why some would think this is a bad thing! If we wait for everything to b absolutlely perfect, before moving forward, then no progress will ever b made. I mean, if I was going to drive thru the city, but I waited for all of the stoplights to be green before I pulled out of my driveway....I would never get out of my driveway....knowwhatimsaying?

If big pharma gets involved, we will probrbaly NEVER be able to grow our own, LEGALLY! Right now if u r prescribed percocet, u LEGALLY can't sell them or give them to anyone else cuz BIG paharma controls it all.

Look at Cali. They may never get a legalization bill passed & most people think they would have been the 1st to do it. Factions in Cali have such polarized ideas of what "legal" should be that they can't seem to move forward on a full legalization bill.

I am by no means a scholar on this but my personal view is, medical doesn't really matter in the big scheme of things....full legalization for adults is what really matters. It's a race, us against the pharmacutical industry. If a state only has a medical program, when pharma companies get on board, they will change things to benefit themelves as much as possible. If a state already has full legalization in place & then pharma gets involved, it will b very difficult for pharma to reverse that. (patients need meds, so plz don't take the "medical doesn't really matter" statement out of context).

Go Florida Go!!!

P.s. Is there a link to the bill? A "no grow" bill is definately not ideal but it's a positive step, either way!!!

 

[grojo]

I have a couple of question's regarding how this is going to play out if legalized:

Who's growing it and who dispenses it. Are these on the bill or is that wrote after it passes for medical use?
Im asking this because of the no grow policy which sounds to me this is going to be a pharma deal

 

[Captain Ginyu]

When most people think of Florida, they picture in their minds of the sunny beaches in the south-east part of the state, such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and even Daytona. But, many don't realize that south Florida is much different than north Florida, and is very different in not only the environmental aspect, but the political one as well.

Tallahassee governs the state, which is filled with conservative and religious groups, & special interests not necessarily to the benefit of the southern part of the state. Unfortunately, this complicates matters, especially in legislation getting passed when so many don't see eye-to-eye.

Florida is a very harsh state on the herb, (I don't dare grow), but recent events have brought some hope, even though in my honest opinion, this will probably be the last state to ever make it legal.

 

[Morcheeba*]

Yep.

can you post where you found that info as all I read it sets limits for patients / caregivers to grow but sets a regulatory environment for a licensed ag business for those selling cannabis or extracts/edibles.


ill re-read it again to see if I can make more sense of it.




EDIT: SB1250 is the bill. link to pdf http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/Florida-sb-1250.pdf

line: 107-109, 244-245, 261-264, 685-692, 807-814, 838-862........lines that directly deal w/patient/caregiver plant limits in the first 30 pages of the 133 pg pdf.

258-261 stating a dispensary must purchase cannabis from a farm w/department issued permit.
peace

 

[iBogart]

can you post where you found that info as all I read it sets limits for patients / caregivers to grow but sets a regulatory environment for a licensed ag business for those selling cannabis or extracts/edibles.


ill re-read it again to see if I can make more sense of it.




EDIT: SB1250 is the bill. link to pdf http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/sourcefiles/Florida-sb-1250.pdf

line: 107-109, 244-245, 261-264, 685-692, 807-814, 838-862........lines that directly deal w/patient/caregiver plant limits in the first 30 pages of the 133 pg pdf.

258-261 stating a dispensary must purchase cannabis from a farm w/department issued permit.
peace

That Bill you have linked is a Bill by state senator Clemens. It's been shot down by the Florida Legislature, I think like last year? So forget that.



This is from the Petition drive from United For Care. John Morgan and Charlie Christs' baby...




This is on the petition:


(5) “Medical Marijuana Treatment Center” means an entity that acquires, cultivates, possesses, processes (including development of related products such as food, tinctures, aerosols, oils, or ointments), transfers, transports, sells, distributes, dispenses, or administers marijuana, products containing marijuana, related supplies, or educational materials to qualifying patients or their personal caregivers and is registered by the Department.


Basically the Florida Department of Health will finalize the structure, but this is the jest so far.

So from what I can tell, the "MMJ Treatment Center" handles the herb from seed, to cultivating, to sale, to delivery. Question is, who operates the Treatment Center?



And the rest of it...




CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PETITION LANGUAGE
BALLOT TITLE: Use of Marijuana for Certain Medical Conditions

BALLOT SUMMARY: Allows the medical use of marijuana for individuals with debilitating diseases as determined by a licensed Florida physician. Allows caregivers to assist patients’ medical use of marijuana. The Department of Health shall register and regulate centers that produce and distribute marijuana for medical purposes and shall issue identification cards to patients and caregivers. Applies only to Florida law. Does not authorize violations of federal law or any non-medical use, possession or production of marijuana.
ARTICLE AND SECTION BEING AMENDED OR CREATED: Article X, Section 29
Full text of proposed constitutional amendment is as follows:

ARTICLE X, SECTION 29. Medical marijuana production, possession and use.
(a) PUBLIC POLICY.
(1) The medical use of marijuana by a qualifying patient or personal caregiver is not subject to criminal or civil liability sanctions under Florida law except as provided in this section.
(2) A physician licensed in Florida shall not be subject to criminal or civil liability or sanctions under Florida law for issuing a physician certification to a person diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition in a manner consistent with this section.
(3) Actions and conduct by a medical marijuana treatment center registered with the Department, or its employees, as permitted by this section and in compliance with Department regulations, shall not be subject to criminal or civil liability or sanctions under Florida law except as provided in this section.
(b) DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this section, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) “Debilitating Medical Condition” means cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis or other conditions for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient.
(2) “Department” means the Department of Health or its successor agency.
(3) “Identification card” means a document issued by the Department that identifies a person who has a physician certification or a personal caregiver who is at least twenty-one (21) years old and has agreed to assist with a qualifying patient’s medical use of marijuana.
(4) “Marijuana” has the meaning given cannabis in Section 893.02(3), Florida Statutes (2013).
(5) “Medical Marijuana Treatment Center” means an entity that acquires, cultivates, possesses, processes (including development of related products such as food, tinctures, aerosols, oils, or ointments), transfers, transports, sells, distributes, dispenses, or administers marijuana, products containing marijuana, related supplies, or educational materials to qualifying patients or their personal caregivers and is registered by the Department.
(6) “Medical use” means the acquisition, possession, use, delivery, transfer, or administration of marijuana or related supplies by a qualifying patient or personal caregiver for use by a qualifying patient for the treatment of a debilitating medical condition.
(7) “Personal caregiver” means a person who is at least twenty-one (21) years old who has agreed to assist with qualifying patient's medical use of marijuana and has a caregiver identification card issued by the Department. A personal caregiver may assist no more than five (5) qualifying patients at one time. An employee of a hospice provider, nursing, or medical facility may serve as a personal caregiver to more than five (5) qualifying patients as permitted by the Department. Personal caregivers are prohibited from consuming marijuana obtained for the personal, medical use by the qualifying patient.
(8) “Physician” means a physician who is licensed in Florida.
(9) “Physician certification” means a written document signed by a physician, stating that in the physician's professional opinion, the patient suffers from a debilitating medical condition, that the potential benefits of the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the health risks for the patient, and for how long the physician recommends the medical use of marijuana for the patient. A physician certification may only be provided after the physician has conducted a physical examination of the patient and a full assessment of the patient’s medical history.
(10) “Qualifying patient” means a person who has been diagnosed to have a debilitating medical condition, who has a physician certification and a valid qualifying patient identification card. If the Department does not begin issuing identification cards within nine (9) months after the effective date of this section, then a valid physician certification will serve as a patient identification card in order to allow a person to become a "qualifying patient" until the Department begins issuing identification cards.
(c) LIMITATIONS.
(1) Nothing in this section shall affect laws relating to non-medical use, possession, production or sale of marijuana.
(2) Nothing in this section authorizes the use of medical marijuana by anyone other than a qualifying patient.
(3) Nothing in this section allows the operation of a motor vehicle, boat, or aircraft while under the influence of marijuana.
(4) Nothing in this law section requires the violation of federal law or purports to give immunity under federal law.
(5) Nothing in this section shall require any accommodation of any on-site medical use of marijuana in any place of education or employment, or of smoking medical marijuana in any public place.
(6) Nothing in this section shall require any health insurance provider or any government agency or authority to reimburse any person for expenses related to the medical use of marijuana.
(d) DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT. The Department shall issue reasonable regulations necessary for the implementation and enforcement of this section. The purpose of the regulations is to ensure the availability and safe use of medical marijuana by qualifying patients. It is the duty of the Department to promulgate regulations in a timely fashion.
(1) Implementing Regulations. In order to allow the Department sufficient time after passage of this section, the following regulations shall be promulgated no later than six (6) months after the effective date of this section:
a. Procedures for the issuance of qualifying patient identification cards to people with physician certifications, and standards for the renewal of such identification cards.
b. Procedures for the issuance of personal caregiver identification cards to persons qualified to assist with a qualifying patient’s medical use of marijuana, and standards for the renewal of such identification cards.
c. Procedures for the registration of Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers that include procedures for the issuance, renewal, suspension, and revocation of registration, and standards to ensure security, record keeping, testing, labeling, inspection, and safety.
d. A regulation that defines the amount of marijuana that could reasonably be presumed to be an adequate supply for qualifying patients’ medical use, based on the best available evidence. This presumption as to quantity may be overcome with evidence of a particular qualifying patient’s appropriate medical use.
(2) Issuance of identification cards and registrations. The Department shall begin issuing qualifying patient and personal caregiver identification cards, as well as begin registering Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers no later than nine months (9) after the effective date of this section.
(3) If the Department does not issue regulations, or if the Department does not begin issuing identification cards and registering Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers within the time limits set in this section, any Florida citizen shall have standing to seek judicial relief to compel compliance with the Department’s constitutional duties.
(4) The Department shall protect the confidentiality of all qualifying patients. All records containing the identity of qualifying patients shall be confidential and kept from public disclosure other than for valid medical or law enforcement purposes.
(e) LEGISLATION. Nothing in this section shall limit the legislature from enacting laws consistent with this provision.
(f) SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this section are severable and if any clause, sentence, paragraph or section of this measure, or an application thereof, is adjudged invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction other provisions shall continue to be in effect to the fullest extent possible.

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[Morcheeba*]

thanks for clearing that up for me and I too question who operates the treatment centers.

it still has my vote but I will continue to grow my own and advocate for a patient right to cultivate their own cannabis.


peace

 

[kitesurfer]

I have not found this in writing, but this past week my radio station--104.5--- reported that our governor, Rick Scott has stated he will veto the bill. Charlie Crist has changed from republican to democrat and he works for Morgan and Morgan so I assume his politics will match mine... hope so. It appears he might be the next governor , if for no other reason than his affiliation with morgan...

sorry... my point being our current governor could care less what we vote in as he has his own agenda...

 

[iBogart]

I have not found this in writing, but this past week my radio station--104.5--- reported that our governor, Rick Scott has stated he will veto the bill. Charlie Crist has changed from republican to democrat and he works for Morgan and Morgan so I assume his politics will match mine... hope so. It appears he might be the next governor , if for no other reason than his affiliation with morgan...

sorry... my point being our current governor could care less what we vote in as he has his own agenda...

From my understanding, an initiative voted by the people cannot be vetoed by the governor. This is an amendment to the state constitution. It totally bypasses the legislature and the governor.