Vote "YES" on Medical Marijuana Amendment 2 in Florida November 4th, 2014

The Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative, Amendment 2 is on the November 4, 2014 ballot in the state of Florida as an initiated constitutional amendment. The measure, upon voter approval, would legalize the cultivation, purchase, possession and use of marijuana to treat medical conditions when recommended by a licensed physician. The measure would also order the Florida Department of Health to register and regulate producers and distributors of medical marijuana and to issue identification cards to patients and caregivers utilizing marijuana
The measure is sponsored by People United for Medical Marijuana.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The official title reads as follows:

“	Use of Marijuana for Certain Medical Conditions	”
—Office of the Florida Secretary of State,

Ballot summary

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.	”
—Office of the Florida Secretary of State,

Constitutional changes

Amendment 2 would add a Section 29 to Article X of the Florida Constitution.
The amendment’s full text can be read here.

Fiscal note

The fiscal note developed by the Financial Impact Estimating Conference reads as follows:

“	Increased costs from this amendment to state and local governments cannot be determined. There will be additional regulatory and enforcement activities associated with the production and sale of medical marijuana. Fees will offset at least a portion of the regulatory costs. While sales tax may apply to purchases, changes in revenue cannot reasonably be determined since the extent to which medical marijuana will be exempt from taxation is unclear without legislative or state administrative action.	”
—Florida Office of Economic & Demographic Research,

Support

People United for Medical Marijuana is leading the campaign in support of the measure.
Multiple media outlets have predicted that the measure will aid Florida Democrats, especially in the state’s gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, since the initiative may bring out young people, who tend to vote more Democratic.Ana Cruz, former executive director of the Florida Democratic Party, said, “I wish that it didn't take medical marijuana on the ballot to motivate our young voters to go and vote because there's far too much at stake for them and their children. But listen, we'll take it any way we can get it.”

Supporters

Officials

• Sen. Jeff Clemens (D-27)
• Rep. Katie Edwards (D-98)

Former officials

• Former Gov. Charlie Crist (D)
• Former Sen. Nan Rich (D-34)

Organizations

• Florida Cannabis Action Network
• Florida Cannabis Industry Association
• Libertarian Party of Florida 

Individuals

• Attorney John Morgan
• Jeremy Bufford, marijuana cultivation expert
• George Soros

Arguments

Pen Pollara, campaign manager of United for Care, offered counter arguments to what he considered the opposition's four main arguments:

• Claim #1: "Medical marijuana will destroy families like alcohol and other drugs have." Pollara replied, "Florida voters understand that passing Amendment 2 will grant medical marijuana access to really sick people. Conversations of addiction are not really germane. And to the effect that it is, common substitutes prescribed to use instead of medical marijuana are opiates, which are highly addictive. Using medical marijuana legally should decrease addictions in Florida to Oxycodone and Percocet."
• Claim #2: "The medical marijuana issue is a Republican versus Democrat issue." Pollara replied, "Medical marijuana is a nonpartisan issue. In a poll conducted by Republicans in Republican-held state senate districts, 78 percent supported medical marijuana. And in the polls we conducted, that number has always been well above 50 percent."
• Claim #3: "Children do not need medical marijuana to treat epilepsy since there are clinical trials they can participate in." Pollara replied, "Kevin [Sabet] is talking about clinical trials on CBD-based pharmaceuticals. It doesn't take into account kids suffering from seizures because they can't apply to be in study since it doesn't exist in Florida. It's like applying to Harvard. Parents are desperate. I'm not a parent, but I would want treatment for my child immediately and not wait. Medical marijuana is not particularly dangerous, and suffering children shouldn't have to wait for any real pharmaceutical research."
• Claim #4: "The wording in the amendment is too lenient and will make medical marijuana available to anyone." Pollara replied, "If there was any doubt, the Florida Supreme Court has already ruled that the amendment will only be used in cases of debilitating illness. The purpose of the amendment is to allow the medical use of marijuana for individuals with debilitating diseases as determined by a licensed Florida physician. In its wording, the amendment specifically says 'Nothing in this section authorizes the use of medical marijuana by anyone other than a qualifying patient."

Other arguments in support of the measure include:

• Sen. Jeff Clemens (D-27) said, "This 60's reefer madness attitude has to go away. We all know now that this is not a dangerous drug and it's actually much safer than other drugs."
• Kim Russell, founder of People United for Medical Marijuana, said that she began legalization efforts shortly after her father was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Some research claims that the drug can help alleviate the symptoms. In response to claims that politics is the motivating factor, Russell says, "It's freedom and it's also compassion."
• NORML's Allen Saint Pierre criticized the Chamber of Commerce's stance as being anti-business, saying, "Somebody has to grow this stuff. Somebody has to transport it. Somebody to market it. Somebody has to package it and somebody has to sell it. One would think the Chamber of Commerce gets that and would be in favor of having more business, more revenue, etc., etc. All we’ve been arguing is to try to take an illegitimate, underground business and bring it above ground so they can become members of the Chamber of Commerce. That’s how twisted this all is."

Campaign contributions

As of May 13, 2014, People United for Medical Marijuana has received $5,025,743 in contributions.
PAC info:

PAC	Amount raised	Amount spent
People United for Medical Marijuana	$5,025,743	$4,856,943
Total	$5,025,743	$4,856,943

Opposition

Drug Free Florida is leading the campaign in opposition to the initiative.

Opponents

Officials

• Gov. Rick Scott (R)
• Attorney General Pam Bondi (R)
• Sen. Don Gaetz (R-1)
• Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-4)
• Rep. Will Weatherford (R-38)
• Rep. Daniel Davis (R-15)

Organizations

• Florida Family Policy Council
• Florida Medical Association
• Institute on Global Drug Policy
• Drug Policy Institute
• Palm Beach County Substance Awareness Coalition
• Florida Police Chiefs Association
• Florida Sheriffs Association
• Florida Chamber of Commerce
• Save Our Society from Drugs

Arguments

• Gov. Rick Soctt (R) said that he would not vote for the initiative, saying, "I have a great deal of empathy for people battling difficult diseases and I understand arguments in favor of this initiative. But, having seen the terrible effects of alcohol and drug abuse first-hand, I cannot endorse sending Florida down this path and I would personally vote against it."
• Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) filed a challenge to the Florida Supreme Court. She argued, “The proposal hides the fact that the Amendment would make Florida one of the most lenient medical-marijuana states, allowing use for limitless 'other conditions' specified by any physician. With no 'condition' off limits, physicians could authorize marijuana for anything, any time, to anyone, of any age. But rather than tell voters of this extraordinary scope, the summary uses language to prey on voters' understandable sympathies for Florida's most vulnerable patients — those suffering 'debilitating diseases.’”
• Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-4), who has pushed for the legalization of the Charlotte’s Web strain of marijuana in the legislature, stated opposition to a “John Morgan financed” initiative because it would lead to a “[marijuana] dispensary on every corner” and anyone with “high anxiety will be begging doctors for a marijuana joint.”
• Jeff Kadel of the Palm Beach County Substance Awareness Coalition said, "With our history with the pill mills and the doctors, there's going to be no shortage of people writing these certificates for whatever medical reason is necessary."

Media editorial positions

See also: Endorsements of Florida ballot measures, 2014

Support

• Bradenton Herald said, "This is about compassion for those whose medical conditions are not suitably eased by pharmaceuticals traditionally prescribed for cancer, multiple sclerosis and other grave diseases. Fears about drug abuse are indeed worrisome, but the amendment proposal charges the Legislature with adopting regulations that should bar that possibility. Should Floridians approve the November ballot issue, the state would become the first in the South and the 21st in the nation to legalize medical marijuana. The trend is clear. Cannabis has lost the demonization once embraced by a majority of Americans."
• Sun Sentinel said, "But no matter what happens in the election nine months from now, Florida lawmakers should act to legalize a new form of pot that offers no drug-induced high, but plenty of relief for seriously ill children. The time for medical marijuana, in one form or another, has come for Florida. This is not about legalizing recreational pot. Period. This is not about Florida becoming the first state in the South to legalize medical marijuana."

Polls

See also: Polls, 2014 ballot measures

[hide]Florida Amendment 2 (2014)
Poll	Support	Oppose	Undecided	Margin of Error	Sample Size
Quinnipiac University Poll 11/12/2013 - 11/13/2013	82%	16%	2%	+/-2.4	1,646
Public Policy Polling 1/16/2014 - 1/21/2014	65%	23%	12%	+/-4.0	591
Gravis Marketing 1/30/2014 - 1/31/2014	57%	31%	11%	+/-4.0	808
University of North Florida 3/06/2014 - 3/14/2014	74%	22%	4%	+/-4.35	507
Gravis Marketing 4/23/14 - 4/25/14	60%	32%	8%	+/-3.0	907
Quinnipiac University Poll 4/23/14 - 4/28/14	88%	10%	2%	+/-2.6	1,413
AVERAGES	71%	22.33%	6.5%	+/-3.39	978.67
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in Florida

Signatures

Supporters needed to collect a minimum of 683,149 valid signatures by February 1, 2014 in order to qualify the measure for the November 2014 ballot. People United for Medical Marijuana announced that the organization collected more than 1.1 million signatures on January 15, 2014. 786,371 valid signatures were recorded by the Division of Elections.

Court evaluation

In Florida, all initiative ballot titles and summaries must be approved by the Florida Supreme Court prior to certification. The court either validates or invalidates the measure’s language. The Florida Supreme Court ruled on January 27, 2014, in a 4-3 decision, that the measure's text is valid, accurate and constitutional.
On December 5, 2013, the high court held a hearing on the measure's language.The initiative faced opposition from Attorney General Pam Bondi (R). She argued, "The proposal [language] hides the fact that the Amendment would make Florida one of the most lenient medical-marijuana states, allowing use for limitless 'other conditions' specified by any physician. With no 'condition' off limits, physicians could authorize marijuana for anything, any time, to anyone, of any age. But rather than tell voters of this extraordinary scope, the summary uses language to prey on voters' understandable sympathies for Florida's most vulnerable patients — those suffering 'debilitating diseases." PolitiFact Florida rated her statement as "mostly true." Solicitor General Allen Winsor went as far as saying that "other conditions" may include people who "don't even have to have a disease." The Florida Legislature also filed an opinion against the initiative.

Ruling

Justices Barbara Pariente, Fred Lewis, Peggy Quince and James Perry concluded that the amendment would be “accurately represented on the ballot.” Their affirmative ruling stated, "Voters are given fair notice as to the chief purpose and scope of the proposed amendment, which is to allow a restricted use of marijuana for certain ― debilitating medical conditions. We conclude that the voters will not be affirmatively misled regarding the purpose of the proposed amendment because the ballot title and summary accurately convey the limited use of marijuana, as determined by a licensed Florida physician."
Chief Justice Ricky Polston and Justices Jorge Labarga and Charles Canady all dissented against the amendment. All three dissenting judges were appointed by Former Gov. Charlie Crist (D), who supports the measure.Polston’s arguments were summarized in the ruling as: “(1) the summary “promises a narrow and limited marijuana program—the precise opposite of what the [a]mendment would deliver”; (2) the summary fails to disclose that physicians who authorize patients’ use of medical marijuana consistent with the amendment allegedly will receive broad tort and disciplinary immunity; and (3) the summary wrongly suggests that the amendment “allows” activities that are plainly illegal under federal law.”
 

Anti medical marijuana group launches website, Vote YES - Amendment 2 (Florida)

The Drug Free Florida Committee, a group a group organized by the Florida Sheriff's Association and Save Our Society From Drugs, has launched its Website with a nine-minute video opposing Amendment 2, the medical marijuana initiative. Amendment 2 proponents attacks its credibility. **Vote Yes**

Drug Free Florida is chaired by Carlton Turner, a former drug czar under Ronald Reagan who has long been a controversial figure, and so far it has been entirely funded by Republican rainmaker and SOS founder Mel Sembler of St. Petersburg, who put in $100,000 in March.

Vote "YES" on Medical Marijuana Amendment 2 in Florida November 4th, 2014

** Carlton Turner & Mel Sembler Are For the Pill Mills** 

 

Sprint Sucks - The Worst Network in St.Pete / 6769 U.S. 19 / MetroPCs is Better

On May 1, 2014 I purchased 2, Samsung Galaxy S5 cell phones with unlimited Talk/Text/Data. Since the time of purchase,I have had Dropped callas, Loss of Data and Missed call's, due to phone not ringing. It came to my attention that the new Galaxy S5 with Spark services has known issues of phone calls not being received. My data in not constant, with a very unreliable service. I have no reception in my home. After 3 days, I tried to return the Galaxy S5 phones only to find out that there was a re-stocking fee. Sprint knowingly put a test network (Spark) that was not working properly. I would of not purchased the phones if I knew this was a test for a new network and would like to switch to a service that works.

05/12/14
Our first bill was over $300. I just received my first bill only to find out that they have added $150 in extra fee's. We decided to go to Sprint after a cheaper quote less then T-Mobil. Our bill should of been around $180.00 per month with unlimited web for to Galaxy S-5 cellphone. My first bill was over $300. Then when I try to return my phones. They want $150 in restocking fee.  We should of stuck with T-mobile.  Not only is the bill high, but the service sucks too.  Dropped calls bad service and No data.....

 Sprint store review

6769 U.S. 19
Pinellas Park, FL
(727) 522-4027



 Tags;
Sprint Sucks / St.Pete / Saint Petersburg /  
Tampa Bay / Pinellas County / Pinellas Park

Lakeland Shoe Repairman Lends Authenticity to Sandler Movie

Jim McFarland has an indirect role in upcoming movie 'The Cobbler.'

Filmmakers strive to create characters audiences will identify with.

When "The Cobbler" is released, Jim McFarland of Lakeland will have no trouble relating to the main character, played by Adam Sandler. That's in part because McFarland had an indirect role in shaping Sandler's character.

McFarland, a third-generation shoe repairman, or cobbler, served as an informal adviser for the movie's production team during preparations for shooting last year. And he contributed props — most notably, photos of himself and his father and grandfather — that production designers incorporated into the ersatz shoe repair shop they manufactured for filming in New York City.

The production team mounted a picture of McFarland and his late father, Jim McFarland Sr., behind the cash register in the shop.

"Whenever he's standing at the cash register, you get a good look at me and my dad," McFarland said.

The movie, a fantasy-drama also starring Dustin Hoffman, Steve Buscemi and Ellen Barkin, is likely to be released in late 2014 or early 2015.

So how did a cobbler in Lakeland wind up contributing to the making of "The Cobbler" in New York? Short answer: Google and connections.

An Internet search led the producers to Lee Efronson, owner of the Miami Leather Company and an associate of McFarland's. As the team quizzed the man about the shoe repair trade, he suggested they get in touch with McFarland, who serves on the board of directors of the Shoe Service Institute of America.

McFarland said the production team found his website, which features pictures of his late father and grandfather with the label, "a family trade since 1918." He said filmmakers called him last summer to gather information about his business and the shoe repair industry.

McFarland said he signed releases giving the filmmakers permission to use material from his shop, including the photo of his grandfather, Lewis McFarland, taken in 1925 at his shop in Hamilton, Ohio. Jim McFarland never met his grandfather, who died when he was an infant.

The production team flew McFarland to New York as they were constructing the set on Manhattan's Lower East Side. He said they mentioned a video on his website describing the history of the family business.

"They were like, 'We watched your bio, and if we wouldn't have seen the date you posted it we would have thought you stole half our script,'" McFarland said.

That comment made sense after McFarland read a synopsis of the script. He said Sandler's character resents being pressured into continuing the family business and regrets missing out on other opportunities.

ECHOES IN PLOT

McFarland similarly had dreams of doing something besides being a cobbler. He enrolled in college with hopes of becoming a high school football coach but left school to help run the family business when his father became ill. Jim McFarland Sr. died a year later, in 1987.

"I got robbed out of my chance go to college," McFarland said. "I had a bad attitude. He's (Sandler) the same in the movie. ... He's like me, like a lot of shoe cobblers in our trade."

The photo of McFarland and his father used on the film set was taken two days before the elder McFarland died.

Jim McFarland Sr. moved his business from St. Petersburg to Lakeland in 1967 at the urging of the late Joe Blanton, then president of Publix Super Markets. The original Lakeland shop was at the just-opened Searstown shopping center on Memorial Boulevard. McFarland moved to his current location in the Lakeland South Shopping Center in 1981.

In "The Cobbler," Sandler's character comes to appreciate his life through a fantasy device: He discovers that when he steps into the shoes of his customers he can experience their lives, for good and bad. McFarland, for his part, has simply embraced his role as perpetuator of a family tradition.

American shoe-repair shops have declined from 120,000 in the 1930s to about 600 today, McFarland said. More than half of the remaining shops are multi-generational family businesses, he said.

During a tour of his store's workshop, McFarland gripped a century-old tack hammer previously wielded by his grandfather. The workshop also contains a Landis Model 88 stitching machine from 1963.

McFarland said in his meeting with the filmmakers, one of them took numerous photos of his hands. He said the team considered using him as a hand model for Sandler's character but eventually hired a cobbler based in New York.

OPENING DOORS

One of McFarland's main contacts on the movie was Wendy Cohen, who was hired to procure products for use on the sets. Cohen, who has worked on dozens of films, said McFarland was a valuable resource.

"The minute I contacted him, every door opened up," Cohen said. "It was amazing, and he was incredibly helpful and a super nice man. He really just knows so much about his field and the history of his field and who's involved and who makes what. ... If you can find a Jim on every movie, it's a gift."

Cohen said the production team incorporated the photo of McFarland's grandfather into the set, hanging it on a wall to represent an ancestor of Sandler's character. McFarland also gave the filmmakers a poster identical to one on display in his shop that promotes Rendenbach, a German leather manufacturer, with the phrase, "The soul of a shoe."

"It's fun to have pieces of history as opposed to fabricating pieces that our department makes," Cohen said. "Pretty much everything Jim provided to us was incorporated."

McFarland said his industry is seeking a resurgence by emphasizing its "green" appeal for younger Americans. Having shoes repaired, McFarland said, is better than throwing them away and buying new ones.

He hopes "The Cobbler" will provide a further boost. The Shoe Service Institute of America has hired Karyn Barker, a Lakeland-based marketing specialist, to raise its profile, and McFarland said the association plans to use its connection to the movie in a marketing campaign.

McFarland is already taking advantage of his connection to the movie. Customers now see the photo of McFarland's grandfather with an addition: the signatures of Sandler, Hoffman and Buscemi.