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Nancy Smith

Marijuana Could Get Tricky for John Morgan

November 21, 2016 - 9:00am
John Morgan
John Morgan

John Morgan is one of the smartest businessmen in America, not just in Florida. I said it in 2014, it's just as true now: Underestimate him at your peril.

Florida's highest profile personal injury attorney wants to be our next governor. Badly. Don't think for one minute ForTheGovernor.com is a trial balloon lobbyist Ben Pollara is floating for his friend. 

Morgan, 60, said, "I have much to think about and do before I jump to a decision of this magnitude." Not really. Trust me, the decision's been made. He's in.

I Beg to DifferI believe John Morgan is ready to write the next chapter of his life story as the head of government in Tallahassee. He's always been a political animal, but on the side. He knows he's a hot commodity right now, loves the doors the just-passed medical marijuana amendment opened for him, and he imagines the possibilities for himself and his business interests if he occupies the governor's mansion.

Certainly he's getting plenty of encouragement. Pollara, who was campaign manager for United for Care, plays up Morgan's "courage and leadership." Last week I heard two prominent Democrats compare Morgan to Trump. Like Trump, they said, Morgan is an outsider, an anti-establishment, "filthy rich," powerful success story. That's what voters want, they said -- leaders who know how to get things done.

Democrats acknowledge Morgan's profanity, outspokenness and hard-drinking lifestyle, but they say it will be forgiven, just as Trump's liabilities have been: "People hear the bad, but they don't care. All they really hear is hope." Having said that, certainly Morgan has a disarming charm about him, too. Which will be the gubernatorial candidate's best foot forward, one would hope.

As Morgan said in a prepared statement last week, "It is either extremely flattering that so many people put such faith in me, or sad that people have so little faith in the typical politicians of both parties who are expected to seek the office."

I admit, I'm not as convinced as Morgan and the Democrats who promote him that he will be perceived the same as Donald Trump. Even if Democratic voters decide, OK, he's no Bernie Sanders, but we can forgive in John Morgan the frailties we abhor in Trump, the real liability for Morgan is the very thing that brung him: marijuana.

Marijuana/pot/cannibis/weed, it's right there at the top of his platform: "Marijuana should be decriminalized. No more arrests."

Morgan may have misinterpreted the 71.2 percent of Florida voters who said "yes" to Amendment 2.

I believe those voters were saying "yes" to medical marijuana, to stopping the suffering of the sick. I'm not convinced even a simple majority of them want marijuana decriminalized. Actually, I want it decriminalized myself, but despite the state's changing social values, I'm fairly certain I'm not in the majority. 

Underneath it all, many Floridians are terrified to do anything that would encourage the Sunshine State to open its doors to recreational marijuana. If a Morgan candidacy is imminent, watch the Sheldon Adelsons and Mel Semblers return to the front, checkbooks in hand, to oppose it.

In 2014 -- the year Amendment 2 failed -- Morgan, father of Amendment 2, inexplicably shot himself and his dream in the foot when he turned up drunk at a country-western bar in Lakeland. He stood drink-in-hand on a stage in front of a customer-audience of young people, and delivered a slurred, profanity-laced speech, urging them to vote for marijuana -- not medical marijuana -- just marijuana. All of it was caught on camera. The video, shown on this page, probably went viral before Morgan got home that night.

"No on 2" people had a feast with it. Morgan was largely unapologetic -- but privately he had to be wondering what could have been if he hadn't shown up at Lakeland's Boots and Buckles that night. Though he was advised after that to stay out of the spotlight, by then it was too late. On Election Day 2014 Amendment 2 fell 2 percentage points short of passage. Morgan had plowed nearly $5 million into the campaign.

I'm convinced the amendment lost first time around because Morgan's barroom rant triggered fear of recreational marijuana in enough voters. Certainly "No on 2" filled TV screens with his performance.

One more thing: Watch questions arise about Morgan's potential conflicts as governor. In 2014, when Charlie Crist was running for governor and Amendment 2 was on the ballot, longtime political consultant and savant Roger Stone, told us this: "The state Department of Health will set up a potentially lucrative system to dispense the medically prescribed marijuana. ... The next governor will control the distribution scheme and John Morgan is betting that will be a grateful Charlie Crist, who will give him (or a client) a franchise, the profits of which would dwarf his personal-injury law firm."

Only, in 2018 -- if Stone is right -- instead of Charlie Crist, the governor could be John Morgan himself.

Here's a look at the whole of Morgan's early platform -- or "vision of what a governor should do":

• "Marijuana should be decriminalized. No more arrests.

• "Any inmate in Florida’s jails or prisons serving time solely for possession of drugs should be released immediately. Addiction is a disease, not a crime.

• "Non-violent felons who have paid their debt to society should have their right to vote and other rights restored automatically. #SecondChancesMatter

• "The minimum wage should be raised to $15 an hour. I am currently drafting a new constitutional amendment that would do just that. At the Morgan and Morgan Hunger Relief        Center at Second Harvest the working poor come in uniforms from work for free food. It is humiliating and unjust.

• "Florida’s land, water and wildlife are our most precious resources and should be protected vigilantly.

• "There are positions and jobs in Tallahassee that are with no real need, like lieutenant governor and agriculture commissioner. I would like to see those abolished.

• "And I believe you can get what you want done in one term. Four years. That’s enough and move on over for someone else."

From my point of view, Morgan's candidacy is irresistible. A Democrat cheerfully channeling a Republican president-to-be who most Democrats loathe -- and so far getting rave reviews for it. 

Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith

Comments

The nations leading pettifogger as governer? What a joke! His firm will be the first to file claims on behalf of marijuana users who hurt themselves or against businesses that "discriminate " against drug users. Either side of the coin, Morgan cashes in. If tort reform ever became a concept floated in DC, Morgan would really be dancing drunk (and stoned probably) on all the bars in Washington.

The self-important, living embodiment of Wilkins Macawber; ever the optimist, never the solution. If you absolutely MUST engage an attorney, find one who can focus.....on more than merely money.

I'm not usually one to brag, but I will say I called this one two years ago. I know he'd be running for something. I'm a proponent of marijuana and I don't care if it's medical or not. So far, I'd say he's a stronger candidate than Alex Sink, who is against MMJ.

Ambulance chaser for Governor? I think not!

Mr. Morgan - we need you - this state needs you. I support you - will work for you.....you have my vote and my active support. Pot should be legal....look at the success in Colorado. As the article mentions.....don't care if you got a little drunk in a bar - what is that compared to the behavior of the American president-elect? Fight Fire with Fire. MM

His firm represented me when I was involved in an accident. His underling, a very poor attorney told me to settle because the insurance company had lots of money to fight me, AND, because Morgan & Morgan would begin charging me (nickel/diming me) and no guarantee for results. That was 14 years ago, and I wake every day with pain and, no thanks to him, pills don't help much anymore. I supported the medical marijuana vote as I know I'll have a prescription, but for Governor? No way! I'm waiting for a decent candidate. Adam Putnam is not a saint and certainly not governor material.

Thank you for your testimony.. this slime should not be in politics period.. He gave parties to Obama to get him elected and hes just as underhanded deceitful as they come.. So Glad they put the video above.. it's a wonder he can show his face in public.. they think they are above reproach? NO they are Not.

He's got my vote and active support.. The jobs he would make and taking on corruption in Tallahassee is easily worth it. Anyone that doesn't rage against corruption, drunk or otherwise, in Tallahassee is whom I'd suppect far more than Morgan. Their ethics laws are so bad they can legally steal from us and nof get put in jail like the Samson case. Hey convicted the client but not the politician.

He is the corruption - and you must be a Liberal. Read the comment above - he is the crook he claims to be fighting.. sound familiar? He's a Democrat on the take.

I wouldn't vote for Morgan -- and I'm for medical marijuana.

John Morgan has the same personality and intellect of the late Governor Claude Kirk and President-Elect Donald Trump (even through their philosophies are opposite of Morgan's).....................don't sell him short!!! Morgan has done very well "convincing people with his verbal skills" that "they should do what he says they should do"!! This is a major plus for one running for a political office. Republicans should be very concerned about Mr. Morgan...........................he could win the Governors race unless the Republicans put a person up against him who has the oratorical skills to "convince the court of public opinion" that they should be Governor rather than Mr. Morgan. If Mr. Morgan adds a couple issues relating to "economic development/jobs" to his platform he will overnight become even more competitive. President-Elect Trump won because he is bombastic, very smart, an outsider and not another government insider and he constantly talked about jobs...........Mr. Morgan can easily fit this profile by adding economic development/jobs............Governor Scott fits this same profile as did former Governor Kirk. Republicans dismiss Mr. Morgan at their own peril !!!!!!!!!

John Morgan a lying putz. Medical pot a riff. They should have DECRIMINALIZED it, not let the damn gumment get involved. If it was just ignored it would more or less fade into the background. Certainly give the cops more time to spend at Dunkin Donuts. Free up a lot of jails. Absolutely stop the nonsense on the SW border. If it was not illegal, and you could grow a couple dozen plants along with tomatoes, squash and eggplants...pot would become worthless. As in - worth no money. That would solve almost all the problems. Fact is - and everyone knows it - booze and cigarettes much more a problem. Tell me again how much in tax dollars they are worth? And that is the rest of the story.

Talk about hypocrisy. You complain about your brethren media with Trump, yet you do the same things to Morgan. I'm not a fan of either man, but you can't try to vilify someone in the press after you just got done complaining about that very act about the media with Trump. You are what is a wrong with the media today, partisanship, instead of independence, and truthful reporting...classic.

Sorry, balance, but see the little "I Beg to Differ" logo? I'm an opinion writer when you see that logo. Opinions 'R' Me -- it's what I do. On the other hand, this is hardly a wilting condemnation of John Morgan. I hope it's just a look at his candidacy based on what happened two years ago.

Partisan opinion. I'm just saying you want it both ways. You still want to complain about the "media" while your doing the same thing... I guess that's why there are so few comments/followers...classic.

Yep, if this is the world you want to bring your kids up in go right ahead and promote Mr. Morgan for Governor. That what we need More Drugs on the street and even legalized drugs at that. All this will do is bring more THUGS and Crime. What the Hell we don't need brain cells anymore we have computer to do our thinking for us! Wake up people of Florida, we have a beautiful State and great, smart people that live and enjoy it, stay away from this man, he's in it for himself!!

How does eliminating millions of mandated crimes, foster crime? The legitimate criminals are the Prohibitionists, who've been overdue for criminal prosecution for outlawing what America was founded, with - outlawing the wall art is the crime that fosters all crime.

If you think John Morgan will bring an end to corruption you are dreaming. He made his money through crony capitalism, buying influence, and ambulance chasing. Wonder why motor vehicle insurance is so high in Florida, thank John Morgan. If you want someone For The People, find another candidate.

Thank you.... Amen...

John Morgan's early vision for Florida governor makes complete sense for the People of Florida. Drastic reform is needed to end corrupt racketeering, constitutional violations, and statewide ecocide in Florida and Morgan could definitely accomplish his goals.

Except we are trying to get the corruption OUT of Florida.. not bring it in.. Morgan is the epitome of what we are fighting..

Comments are now closed.

nancy smith
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