After Fla House Fails To Act, Medical Marijuana Forces Vow To Put Issue On 2016 Ballot
BY BUDDY NEVINS
Pro-medical marijuana forces today vowed to place the issue on the ballot again in 2016 because the House adjourned without acting on the issue.
Medical marijuana won the support of roughly 58 percent of voters, but fell short of the 60 percent needed for a constitutional amendment in last year’s election.
Below is the news release from United for Care, the medical marijuana committee:
United for Care
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Contact: Bianca Garza
House Quits; Medical marijuana going to 2016 ballot
Just moments ago the Florida House of Representatives declared Sine Die and adjourned for the 2015 legislative session, three days before they were scheduled to do so. With this action, or rather inaction, from the House, medical marijuana legislation is officially dead in 2015.
United for Care campaign manager, Ben Pollara, issued the following statement reacting to the news:
“Today the people we elected to represent us in Tallahassee literally abdicated their responsibility to Floridians. The House of Representatives decided to simply quit work, three days before the end of session, and with that, medical marijuana legislation is dead in Tallahassee.’
“Hundreds of thousands of patients across this state are sick, suffering and dying, but the House simply quit. Nearly 3.4 million Floridians voted “yes” for medical marijuana, but the House simply quit.’
“Despite courageous leadership from Senators and Representatives in both houses and both parties, Tallahassee has failed us again. Medical marijuana will be on the ballot in 2016 and the voters will pass what the legislature failed to.”
United for Care Chairman, John Morgan, will be issuing a separate statement shortly.
Powered by over 11,000 volunteers, United for Care is the largest organization in Florida fighting for a sensible medical marijuana law. United for Care is a non-partisan campaign with an on-the-ground presence across the state including a campaign office in Miami.
###
Paid for by People United for Medical Marijuana, 20 North Orange Avenue, Suite 1600, Orlando, FL
April 28th, 2015 at 7:42 pm
The Republicans just did the Democrats a huge solid.
April 29th, 2015 at 2:38 pm
Evidently, Congressional obstructionism and flagrant unwillingness to work for those who elected them is contagious and has now infected the State House of Representatives.
How dare they walk out of the session, in violation os State law, which says they MUST pass a budget before adjourning.
They must have lobbyist sponsored fundraisers to attend somewhere.
April 30th, 2015 at 2:50 pm
Some these same politicos would not even see you unless your were wearing a tie. This is BS. None of these bill will not even address the preventive or medicinal benefits. what we need is two amendments gong. Morgan and one that reads Effective on January 1, 2017 all Florida Laws and Encumberments as to the adult importation, possession cultivation and all uses of Cannabis will be null and void. It will be moved to a unarmed regulatory agency of Agriculture Department, where Medical Cannabis shall be tax exempt and a non punitive tax of no more than 10% for both wholesale and retail sales in addition to State Sales Tax