Vote No on Amendment 2 is doubling down on its criticisms on an amendment to legalize medical marijuana in the Sunshine State, slamming the proposal for its lack of regulation and saying it would be dangerous for Florida.
Former Florida Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Bell and Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, joined the group to voice their concerns about the amendment, which is set to come to the ballot this November.
Bell and Latvala said they worried about the future implications of the amendment, saying the large number of licensed caregivers (around 133,000) who can prescribe the drug will actually be drug dealers themselves.
“The large number increases the likelihood that these caregivers under amendment 2 will simply be people who can legally deal drugs,” Bell said, pointing out what he sees as “legal loopholes” in Amendment 2.
Latvala also explained he feared some methods of taking the drug could spiral out of control and be potentially harmful.
The Clearwater Republican specifically pointed to an edible form of marijuana in candy form, which he said could be dangerous and would amplify the likelihood of abuse.
"I don’t want candy like this to be out in candy dishes in people’s homes where children can take advantage of it,” Latvala said. “I just see too many opportunities for abuse.”
Supporters of the amendment said Vote No On 2 was creating a "total dystopian fantasy about the way the amendment could be implemented."
"Put it away," he told Politifact. "That’s Parenting 101."
Latvala also said he didn’t quite understand why Florida would need to pass the amendment, since the state Legislature has already passed an amendment legalizing marijuana for patients suffering from epilepsy and other illnesses.
“The idea that the Florida Legislature will write rules that aren’t specifically spelled out and delineated in this constitutional amendment in order regulate it is simply not true,” he said. “Passing amendment 2 sets a dangerous precedent for our state, one that cannot be easily fixed.”
Amendment 2 would allow for the medical use of marijuana by a qualifying patient or caregiver. It would also prohibit physicians from being subject to criminal or civil liabilities under Florida law for issuing a prescription for medical marijuana.
But medical marijuana would only be allowed for use for those with “debilitating” medical conditions, so not everyone with medical issues would be able to get a prescription for pot. Conditions covered under the amendment 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.
Vote No on Amendment 2 warned the measure would be too far-reaching and would have dire implications
“[Amendment 2] would tie the hands of local governments and legislators; proliferate the use of marijuana in Florida; and allow as many as 2,000 pot shops run by budtenders, not pharmacists, to operate in our state,” Christina Johnson, spokesperson for the campaign, said.
Recent surveys have found most Floridians support Amendment 2, with some polls showing over three-quarters of likely voters favoring the amendment.
Voters will head to the polls Nov. 8.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
