Fla. Lawmaker Seeks Legalization Of Medical Marijuana
TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) -- Use of marijuana for medical purposes would be legalized if approved by voters under a proposed constitutional amendment filed by a Democratic lawmaker on Thursday.
"There is no good reason for us to allow people to use synthetic drugs like oxycontin, methodone, percocet, and Prozac, but ban them from using a natural, safer drug," said Rep. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, the author of the bill (HJR 1407). "Study after study has shown that the use of medicinal cannabis can help those suffering from debilitating diseases. Who could be against that?"
The proposal would, if passed by the Legislature, go to the 2012 ballot for voter approval. It's Florida's first-ever bill seeking to legalize the medical use of cannabis.
A recent poll by Gov. Rick Scott's pollster found that nearly 60 percent of Floridians support the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.
Several health care professionals and people with debilitative conditions joined Representative Clemens on Thursday during a press conference announcing the legislation. Among the participants was Cathy Jordan, 60, of Bradenton. She has lived with ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease for 25 years and she says cannabis helps her manage the disease.
"Cannabis is a neuro-protector, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory," said Jordan. "I am here today to help patients and the families of patients with neuromuscular diseases and brain disorders to educate themselves on cannabis."
The bill calls for medicinal cannabis to be used only under certain conditions, including the prescription of the drug by a physician, the diagnosis of a debilitating condition, and restriction of use to places that are not "in plain view of, or in a place open to, the general public." It also states that insurance companies are not required to cover medicinal cannabis, and that employers are not required to accommodate use in the workplace.
Fifteen other states have already passed variations of Rep. Clemens' proposal. It has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in new private industry revenue and millions of dollars in state tax revenue.
But the true focus of the bill is providing natural relief to people who are dealing with difficult medical issues.
"We have a fantastic opportunity to provide relief to thousand of Floridians," Clemens said. "It would be madness to not move forward with letting the people of Florida vote on this issue."
The measure hasn't been referred to any committees, and so far doesn't have a Senate companion.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
