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Politics

Florida Police Chiefs: 'Just Say No' to Medical Marijuana

October 13, 2016 - 12:00pm

Florida police chiefs are adding their names to the list of opponents against Amendment 2.

On Thursday, the Florida Police Chiefs Association said it would not be supporting Florida’s proposed constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana in Florida. 

“The Florida Police Chiefs Association strongly opposes any and all proposals that would legalize or decriminalize the sale, possession or use of marijuana,” said executive director of the Florida Police Chiefs Association  Amy Mercer. 

Mercer said the amendment could be problematic for Floridians and law enforcement agencies, expressing concerns it could threaten the safety of the community.

Our top priority is the safety of our citizens and communities, and we believe this amendment may create more problems than it intends to alleviate,” Mercer continued.

The Florida Police Chiefs join other law enforcement agencies like the Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) and other local sheriffs agencies like the Orange County Sheriff and the Palm Beach County Sheriff in opposition to the amendment. 

“Though it’s being billed as about medical, we know it’s about recreation,” said Orange County Sheriff and FSA president Jerry Demings. “It’s the wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

According to a report from the American Civil Liberties Union, Florida had the third-highest number of marijuana-related arrests in 2010, when nearly 58,000 people were arrested for possession of marijuana. According to the ACLU, the Sunshine State had the 11th highest arrest rate nationwide, with a little over 300 arrests per 1,000 people.

Amendment 2 would expand the use of medical marijuana in Florida. Medical pot would only be allowed for use for those with “debilitating” medical conditions which would include cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, and for other conditions which a physician feels using medical marijuana would outweigh the potential health risks for a patient. 

A low-THC strain of medical marijuana is already available in Florida. The Florida Legislature green-lighted “Charlotte’s Web” to help patients suffering from epilepsy. A bill legalizing the strain was passed and signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott in 2015, and dispensaries officially opened in Florida this summer.

Supporters of the amendment say it’s necessary to offer help to those truly suffering from life-changing medical conditions, but opponents of Amendment 2 worry it will open up too many loopholes and make pot too easily accessible and susceptible to abuse. 

In order to pass, Amendment 2 needs to receive 60 percent of the vote in November. Two years ago, the proposal failed when it fell short and received 58 percent of the vote. 

Recent polling, however, suggests this year might be different for Amendment 2. Most Floridians have said they support the measure, with new surveys showing over 75 percent of likely voters saying they are in favor of legalizing medical marijuana. 

 

 

Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen

 

Comments

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Be better if they would vote as a person rather than a police force voting on their behalf........

No on pot!

Of course they're against it. It's how they get their money from the government. The more people they arrest for a beneficial & harmless plant the more money they get. Who cares who's life is ruined, the cops get shiny new cars and night vision goggles. Land of the free my ass,,,

Well C BREEZE if you must attempt to belittle and degrade me, knowing nothing about me. I lost half a leg in Iraq, so I am 100% disabled with the VA. I also draw a respectable pension from my 22 years of service. I was not suggesting to do away with the VA. Truth is if the Physicians at the VA were permitted to prescribe cannabis instead of anti-depressants, probably 85-90 % of veterans would use that and not big pharma medicines that make them BILLIONS! So I hope you learn to control your childish attitude before you become a really miserable human being But not to worry, I am still able to flip burgers on my grill.....

I believe alcohol does more to destroy families and your body and kills more people than pot ever would. I've never known anyone who smokes pot to get angry/violent like alcohol can and often does. So if you're against pot why aren't you against alcohol? Should we make alcohol illegal? How many of you who are voting "No' -- drink beer or wine or even hard liquor?

Gail, that's because 99% are hypocrites or have a special interest. Enforcement (less budget or money for them), publix heiress (losing money from pharmacies sales of prescription drugs), Bill Adelson (wants to build casino in Florida just sucking up to political figures, wife owns drug rehab center down in Florida and will hurt her business, also he is already in the cannabis industry in Israel with one of the leading research labs over there doing studies on epilepsy and a bunch of other diseases and conditions)

Law enforcement agencies and their employees, probation office staff, jail & prison employees, courthouse workers, prison builders, aetc. Aplus thousands of other state, local and private workers will all see their numbers and budgets dramatically reduced. That's who works hardest against legalizing pot. It's a cottage industry and they are protecting their interests at others expense.

For the people who are voting no, are you actually educated on Cannabis? Do you know what the Endo-Cannabinoid System is? Discoveries of the past twenty years, specifically the endocannabinoid system and its role in human physiology, will go a long way toward filtering the lies and distortions of the Cannabis prohibition. - And for the record, I'm not a "Pothead" I'm a trichome head! (Inside joke, need a brain to understand). No on 2 needs to do some research and learn the truth about Cannabis.

Not much hair on your head huh? (NO on TWO !)

If amendment #2 passes, Florida will be the land of zombies and creepy clowns.

With this comment I'm sure you are a pig, I meant cop.

They already are. And yes ,I live in Florida.

The police chiefs and the rest of the law enforcement powers to be are worried about loosing state and federal grant money for drug enforcement. They are also worried about how this will effect their arrest statistics, being that a lot of 'small-time' agencys only have petty pot arrest to show for in terms of officer productivity. Bottom line is look at all of the states to that have legalixed it, no issues there!.Floridians getting off pills and crack means no more free money for the cops to buy and waste equipment. There is such waste in government but even more so in law enforcement. if you are a motorcycle cop, you typicaly train one day per month. this means that the agency pays each officer 12 hours, usually at time and a half to ride their motors cycles around for 'training'. this includes three hour lunches or dinners, often out of thier jusistiction.I could go on and on, but weed is the least of their worries. I am a veteran and i have PTSD from combat in Iraq. I wouls much rather have medical cannabis instead of all these anti-depressants that the VA gives you by the truck load. Peace.....

Couldn't pass the test, huh "Rudy"? So, where do you "flip burgers" now, and what's your "medical" need for marijuana?...Reduced price compared to you having to buy it illegally? You seem to be a big enough self-declared idiot to suggest that we do away with the VA since I suspect they wouldn't classify you as 'legitimate' PTSD

Real Classy C Breeze. So now you make fun of someone that protected your liberties. The liberties that let you act like a douche and not have any consequences for. What have you done for this country? From what I see not to much, as you like to comment often. So you must not have a real job. Or your just stealing you bosses time.

Au Contrair "Anonymous", I HAVE served this country (far longer than you I suspect...), that's why I would hate to see it denigrated and compromised by the pathetic self-proclaimed "victims" and "potheads" like you. "NO on TWO !"

They have low .05 THC already so have at it. No you want .35 THC so you and your buds can party till the cows come home. Move to Colorado. In Florida we have enough seniors on medications. Vote NO on amendment # 2, for the People.

You sir make absolute no sense . It's because your daughter , mother do not have epilepsy . Educate yourself on cannabis.

"No you want .35 THC". Where did you get your education? Didn't they teach how to check your work so that you don't look like and ass.

That did it, now just because of you I'm gonna vote twice and vote No for marijuana two times! Wanna make it three times!

"Over 75% of Florida voters approve"..... Say's who "Jugs", YOU? Are you a "pothead"?

For someone that doesn't smoke. I would think you can come up with a different comment that you posted 2 days ago. Maybe you should. It might open up you creativity a little. Or you just copied and paste which just makes you lazy. Funny a stigma they give cannabis users. Which tells me if your lazy your just probably lazy no matter if you smoke or not.

As usual law enforcement stands against the people, not with them. Without such laws against drugs they would have to go find actually bad people......... And since legalizing pot gets many off deadly alcohol, heroin, opiates and that way saves many lives, just who do they think they are helping other than keeping arrests up to justify themselves and have people to mistreat. .......... Where is getting government out of our lives , don't they understand. ? ......... Instead solve thd problem by tacing it and using the money for mental health care............. But doing it would cut immates 70% so they won't .

"jerry" (formerly "jerryd"), Your comments show you are ALREADY on drugs (probably medication abuse), and show no rational thought.

If Law Enforcement agencies in Florida say no, then we will stand with then and that's good, No on amendment 2.

Obviously because All law enforcement personnel follow the law and can do no harm. Get off of that cloud and come back down to Reality.

My No and my wife No means Not Pot for you............ vote No for amendment #2 and stand behind Law Enforcement. They see what Marijuana does to people and that's good enough for Us!

Yes. It takes away from their pay check. And your going to need another 13 million votes besides just you and your wife. Better get to it. As of now it showing to be a landslide in favor of it. Good luck with that.

If the law eliminated the add-on phrase.... "and for other conditions which a physician feels....", then it could be a good thing. But that additional phrase opens it up to just about anything! I have seen what happened in AZ when they allowed dispensaries and physician okay.... Wow! The dispensaries are still too expensive for many patients (and others), so there is still a nice black market business. AZ is now set to vote on recreational use...no surprise! Colorado has major problems and cannot control the use by minors, the DUI rates, etc. The schools are not getting the "extra" tax monies either. If FL votes for it this year, be prepared for fraud and abuse, especially the way that amendment is worded!

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