Lack of education on Amendment 2 is culprit behind failed attempt to legalize medical marijuana in Florida

Although amendment ambiguities may have clouded Florida voters’ judgment, here’s what you need to know about medical marijuana, a natural drug legalized by 23 states and Washington, D.C.

A regime lead by John Morgan, multi-millionaire friend of Charlie Crist, supporting medical marijuana legalization in Florida flopped on November 4, 2014.

Despite nearly $6 million in negative ads against medical marijuana’s legalization, the ballot collected majority support, with nearly 58 percent voting “Yes,” and 42 percent voting “No.”

However, constitutional amendments require the support of 60 percent of those voting… and the medical marijuana amendment fell short.

Why didn’t the medical marijuana amendment get passed in Florida?

The negative ads certainly didn’t help, yet the largest factor was that many Floridians were lacking information on medical marijuana, and how it can affect them, their loved ones and the state of Florida.

People with debilitating diseases may be prescribed marijuana for medicinal purposes while maintaining laws against its recreational use.

Twenty-three states, Guam and Washington D.C., provide legal marijuana for pain relief. Supporters of Amendment 2 want to offer the natural medicine to an estimated 300-400 thousand people in Florida struggling with pain due to conditions such as ALS, cancer and multiple sclerosis, under the guidance and restrictions of the Florida Department of health.

However the broad language of Amendment 2 lacked some detail, leaving it up to voters on the fence to assume who qualifies and how the drug and drug dealers can abuse its use, or let the $6 million in negative ads to skew their knowledge.

Florida lawmakers should more clearly outline the rules in the 2016 ballot if they want to see more “Yes’s.”

Here’s the ‘Deal’:

• A pot dealer licensed by the state or caregiver who helps patient would be immune from prosecution.
• Caregivers would be licensed from state department of health, as well.
• Criminals and ‘dangerous’ drug dealers are unlikely to pass this extensive procedure.
• The amendment prevents lawsuit against the doctor or caregiver

How the 23 States & D.C. Make Medical Marijuana Work:

Many states, such as Alaska and Illinois, list the approved conditions, including cachexia, cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, and more.

Florida’s Amendment 2 stated:

“(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.

Perhaps the bolded text ‘or other conditions’ may have left voters feeling skeptical.

Each state also outlines who can supply the medical marijuana and what requirements are needed to be considered a ‘caregiver.’

What are the benefits of Medical Marijuana to the Patient?

Medical marijuana’s uses can be traced back to 2737 B.C.

Shen Neng, the emperor of China, used cannabis tea to treat gout, rheumatism, malaria and memory loss, according to State University of New York at Albany professor Mitch Earleywine.

The healing affects of the natural medication spread across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and India, and were used to reduce pain and stress.

However, a combination of morphine addiction and the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act [sic], led to the decreased popularity in the medicine in the U.S. because of the fear of addiction and high taxes.

More Benefits of Medical Marijuana: 

• Available in multiple forms for ingestion (smoked, vaporized, pill, and edible in foods)
• Therapeutic affects – 60 active ingredients help the body form cannabinoids to modulate pain
• Pain relief – may reduce neuropathic pain, or pain caused by damaged nerves, in HIV patients, something that morphine cannot accomplish.
• Appetite stimulant – popular among those with HIV/AIDS or cancer who have suppressed appetite
• Anti-nausea – popular among chemotherapy patients
• Don’t need to get ‘high’ – Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive component of marijuana that does not leave people stoned
• May also help treat schizophrenia
• Less harmful side affects than synthetic drugs – synthetic drugs, such as Ambien and Celebrex, which cause dangerous side affects can be replaced with natural cannibas.

Benefits to the Economy

Studies estimate the average annual trade in marijuana to be $113 billion, translating to nearly $45 billion in taxes ‘slipping through our fingers,’ said Harvard professor Jeffrey Miron.

By regulating and monitoring the distribution and sale of marijuana, states could fund many beneficial initiatives, including assistance programs for drug users.

Farmers, farmworkers, fertilizer firms and other agricultural product suppliers can benefit with the expansion of indoor marijuana growing facilities. Trucking, and other transit firms can benefit by shipping the holistic drugs. How about packaging or retail companies?

The Bottom Line:

So long as the rules are regulations about medical marijuana and its uses are more clearly outlined and controlled, this could be a huge benefit to the state of Florida.

Perhaps in 2016 we’ll see it on the ballot and grasp that remaining 2 percent of voters. Until then, we can track the positive affects of medical marijuana legalization in the other 23 states and Washington D.C.