SEIU Florida Backs Medical Marijuana Amendment

On Tuesday, the Service Employees International Union of Florida (SEIU Florida) endorsed a proposed state constitution amendment to expand medical marijuana in the Sunshine State. 

SEIU Florida announced its support of the measure from United for Care. Trial lawyer John Morgan and United Care backed Amendment 2 on medical marijuana back in 2014 and rounded up 58 percent of the vote, just under the 60 percent needed to pass. 

“We are honored to again receive the support of the SEIU,” said Ben Pollara, United for Care’s campaign manager. “The endorsement from the union representing the largest number of health-care workers in the state is particularly rewarding. We will proudly fight alongside SEIU Florida to secure the rights of doctors and their patients with debilitating conditions to make medical decisions without having to live like criminals.”

Martha Baker, a vice president of SEIU Florida and a nurse, praised the proposal on Tuesday. 

“The Use of Marijuana for Debilitating Medical Conditions ballot initiative is about compassion and quality of care for patients,” Baker said. “There are hundreds of thousands of very sick Floridians who will find relief due to this comprehensive proposal. There are 24 other states that have a medical marijuana law; United for Care is doing the right thing for Florida by bringing this issue to the voters. Moreover, the proposal puts medical decisions back in their proper place- between patient and doctor.

“Seriously ill patients should not have to expose themselves to prosecution for seeking to obtain the medicine they need to relieve their symptoms, and no physician should have to put their freedom or their license at risk for recommending the use of that medicine,” Baker added.