SICU Endorses Amendment 2

The Service Employees International Union of Florida has endorsed Amendment 2. If approved the amendment would make prescribed medical marijuana legal in Florida.

“Amendment 2 is about compassion for patients suffering from debilitating conditions, and that is something our members are proud to stand behind,” said Baker. “Seriously ill patients should not have to expose themselves to prosecution for seeking to obtain the medicine they need to relieve their symptoms, and no physician should have to put their freedom or their license at risk for recommending the use of that medicine.”

Denise Glass, RN, a nurse in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami with a career spanning 23 years, also believes the decision to endorse Amendment 2 represents a major step forward for patients’ rights in Florida.

“Expanding the medical options available to patients will positively affect their lives,” said Glass. “Too many people are suffering needlessly because they don’t have legal access to a substance that can alleviate their severe symptoms and offer them a better quality of life. Voting “yes” on Amendment 2 is the right thing to do.”

A recent poll by Cherry Communications found that 58 percent of respondents supported the legalization of medical marijuana.

Public Policy Polling found 66 percent support for Amendment 2. 60 percent of the vote is needed for the amendment to become law.

Grady Judd Misinforms Floridians on Amendment 2

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd has made a career of going after the porn industry. Judd has spent his career using his office to be a conservative culture warrior. It is no surprise that that Judd told WFSU that he is against Amendment 2.

“Amendment Two is about legalization of marijuana,” Judd says. “This is not about the medical use of marijuana, it’s about legalization of marijuana. And this amendment is in fact is a wolf in sheeps’ clothing.”

Wrong. There is nothing in the language of Amendment that would make the sale of recreational marijuana legal. The ballot language of Amendment 2.

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.

Attorney John Morgan has been the major backer of Amendment 2. At a debate, Morgan pointed out the lack of logic in the fear mongering of medical marijuana.

“The word slippery slope is a scare tactic," Morgan said. "If we were about slippery slopes and kids getting their hands on them, we’d have to outlaw booze, guns and cars."

You can bet Judd isn't about to advocate for guns to be illegal.

I have no doubt that there are people who back Amendment that whom would love to see recreational marijuana legal in Florida. However, that is not the purpose of Amendment 2. Oxycontin is highly addictive and has had overdose deaths. A report from the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition found more people have died from prescribed opioids than from heroin or cocaine.

The McGill team reviewed existing research, and found that the spike in opioid-related deaths cannot be attributed to one single cause. In fact, there are at least 17 different contributing factors, they say, in particular the increase in prescriptions and sales of opioids, the increased use of strong, long-lasting drugs such as OxyContin and methadone, and the mixing of opioids with other drugs or alcohol.

The team found “little evidence” that online drug sales, or errors by patients or doctors, are significant contributors to the spike in opioid deaths.

Researchers must develop strategies to bring down overdose death rates, not just in North America, the study notes, but for future use as prescription medications become more prevalent in developing countries.

The amount of overdoses from medical marijuana is zero.

Rick Scott Signs Charlotte’s Web Bill

Gov. Rick Scott really wants to get re-elected. Scott had previously been against medical marijuana. Polls have shown Floridians overwhelmingly supporting medical marijuana. Smart GOP consultants like Rick Wilson saw how the Right was losing this fight. Wilson made these remarks to the Orlando Sentinel.

“Society is changing. Republicans can let some steam out of this and take the issue away from Charlie Crist and John Morgan by proving they have a heart and are responsive to people,” GOP consultant Rick Wilson said.

“This is a no-brainer for people with a political head and compassionate heart.”

Wilson said the wing of the party still resistant to marijuana-legalization issues – evangelicals and “tough on crime” conservatives who have been anti-drug for 25 years – have largely won the fight over abortion (with public opinion shifting in their favor), lost the fight over gay marriage, and are making drug legalization “the hill they die on.”

“I do not think that’s an effective position to be in,” he said.

Wilson sent me this message on Twitter.

Q: Need an on-the-record quote on why you think GOP should drop opposition to medical marijuana. DM me.

Wilson: Because society has moved past reefer madness, witnessed the failure of the war on drugs, and the pro-freedom position is to move on.

Scott is usually politically tone deaf. However, someone must have pointed out to him that attorney John Morgan will use Amendment 2 to help bring out the vote for Charlie Crist. Morgan is a longtime Crist supporter and the main financial backer of United For Care. UFC is the main group responsible for placing Amendment 2 on the November ballot.

Ballot language for Amendment 2.

The official ballot text reads as follows:

"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."

In order to take some momentum away from Amendment 2, Scott signed 1030. Low levels of THC medical marijuana will be allowed for patients. The patients must have medical needs that qualify for the compassionate use registry. A related bill Scott signed, SB 1700, would keep the names of the patients on the compassionate use registry confidential. The exceptions would be law enforcement investigations, department regulating and doctors filling out a prescription.

Scott statement on signing SB 1030.

“The approval of Charlotte’s Web will ensure that children in Florida who suffer from seizures and other debilitating illnesses will have the medication needed to improve their quality of life,” Scott said in a news release.

It's all about the kids for Rick Scott. It has nothing to do with the possibility that Amendment 2 might help get out the vote for Crist. Except that back in January, Scott said he would not support a state constitutional amendment to make medical marijuana legal.

"I have a great deal of empathy for people battling difficult diseases and I understand arguments in favor of this initiative," he said in a statement provided to CNN by a spokesman. "But, having seen the terrible affects (sic) of alcohol and drug abuse first-hand, I cannot endorse sending Florida down this path and I would personally vote against it."

It is not the children for Rick Scott. It is about Amendment 2.