A medical marijuana expansion bill has been passed by the Florida Legislature, and the bill is currently awaiting the Governor’s signature. While some are hailing this as a significant move, most activists see HB 307 as doing way too little. The United for Care campaign, led by John Morgan, has put a medical marijuana initiative on the ballot for the second election cycle in a row. The initiative is much better than the bill, and HB 307 in no way is a suitable replacement for the initiative, which is how some Florida politicians are framing it. John Morgan had some choice words in regards to the bill, which he e-mailed yesterday. See below:
Once again, Tallahassee politicians are putting their own campaigns before medical science and the rights of doctors.
Yesterday, they passed HB307, a bill that perpetuates the status quo except for a very small number of terminally ill patients.
This law would do nothing for people like my brother, a quadriplegic, or any other person who has intractable pain. It does nothing to help cancer patients who need marijuana to counter the affects of chemo. It does nothing for our soldiers with PTSD or patients with MS.
The bill is typical Tallahassee window dressing, designed more to help with campaigns than serve as a true means of access for those that need it. lt also adds a new class of eligibility to a universe of ZERO eligible patients.
Hospice centers have another drug: It’s called morphine.
While there are a few up there worth supporting, I lost faith in the legislature a long time ago. The ONLY thing they’ve done with this legislation is acknowledge that medical marijuana works, but then they specifically voted against access for hundreds of thousands of patients who need it.
This is why we took matters into our own hands, and why so many of us opened up our wallets to support getting Amendment 2 on the 2016 ballot.
Tallahassee’s failure points again to the need for Amendment 2, and the need for your continued support.
Doctors—not Tallahassee politicians—should decide who they should recommend use marijuana. People shouldn’t have to be terminal to be allowed this access.
Please support our efforts by making a small donation of $5 or more here.
– John Morgan
Chairman
United for Care
