Medical Marijuana Initiative Moving Forward
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ORLANDO (CBSMiami/NSF) - After Florida lawmakers adjourned their session without taking up the medical-marijuana issue, supporters of legalization are gearing up for a renewed attempt to pass a ballot initiative in 2016.
In a statement posted last week on the website of the advocacy group United for Care, Orlando attorney John Morgan said his "commitment is as strong as ever" to pass a constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana.
"I was hoping, like many of you, that our legislators would wake the hell up, realize that the science is there, the will of the people is there, and that a delay not only hurts patients, it's going to hurt them in the next election,'' Morgan said in the statement. "Make no mistake --- I will do what I can to alleviate the pain of those suffering --- and make sure those that are responsible for this delay feel pain politically."
Morgan led efforts to pass a constitutional amendment in 2014, but the proposal fell short of the 60 percent voter approval needed for ballot initiatives. He hoped lawmakers would address legalization during the 60-day legislative session.
Supporters, however, face obstacles in returning to the ballot in 2016. In part, they will need to submit 683,149 valid petition signatures to the state --- and had not submitted any as of Monday morning, according to the Florida Division of Elections website.
The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.
