Florida Supreme Court to Hear Medical Marijuana Case

Submitted by Anonymous on December 4, 2013 - 4:35pm

The Florida Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Thursday from Attorney General Pam Bondi and People United for Medical Marijuana about the possibility of a constitutional amendment supporting medical marijuana in the Sunshine State.

Bondi, who opposes the amendment, has already come out with several objections to it. In abrief filed last month in the Florida Supreme Court, Bondi argued that the ballot title and initiative are overall misleading to voters and hide the amendments true scope and effect.

Bondi also expressed concerns over the potential abuse of the drug.

The amendment would make Florida one of the most permissive states in the country, read the brief. Unlike most other states narrow and limited programs, this proposal would allow anyone of any age to use marijuana for any reason, so long as they found a physician to say that the benefits would outweigh the risks.

People United for Medical Marijuana, the backers of the constitutional amendment, say opponents to the amendment are twisting the truth and preventing those who need the drug from legally obtaining help.

Any statement that the initiative would allow unfettered use of medical marijuana would itself be misleading to voters, wrote People Uniteds lawyer, John Mills.

But Bondi and other legislators who oppose the amendment have not necessarily come out against the use of marijuana, but said the ballot language is far too broad to remain on the ballot in 2014.

If the Florida Supreme Court does allow the amendment on the ballot next November, People United would still need to gather more than 680,000 petition signatures by Feb. 1. People United says it has about 500,000 signed petitions. Less than half have been verified.

Medical marijuana has enjoyed broad support from Floridians. A Quinnipiac University poll of Florida voters found an overwhelming majority -- 82 percent -- said theysupport allowing adults to legally use marijuana for medical use if it is prescribed by a doctor.

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