The heiress of Florida’s favorite grocery store, Publix, has dumped $800,000 into the campaign to fight medical marijuana, heating up an already intense battle over legalizing the drug in the Sunshine State.
State election records show Publix founders, the Carol Burnett Family Trust, donated $800,000 to Drug Free Florida earlier this month. Drug Free Florida is leading the charge to squash a constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana.
This isn't the first time Florida has seen a constitutional amendment to legalize medical pot. Voters last saw the amendment in 2014, when it missed the necessary 60 percent to pass by only two points.
Carol Jenkins Barnett, daughter of Publix founder George Jenkins, gave more than $500,000 to the anti-medical marijuana campaign two years ago. She is currently worth $1.8 billion.
The donation is said to be a personal donation rather than a donation made on Publix’s behalf, but some who support medical marijuana have already condemned the grocery chain as a result.
Amendment 2 supporters took to Twitter to call for an all-out boycott of Publix, declaring they would no longer shop at its stores as a result of Jenkins’ donation.
“Time to start boycotting Publix,” wrote one user. “I'll miss the sandwiches.”
People United for Medical Marijuana, the group leading the push to pass the amendment, said the donation was a sign the group needs to expand its message base.
“We CAN NOT LET THEM GET TOO FAR AHEAD in the communications race,” wrote United For Care campaign manager Ben Pollara. “They may out raise us, but we simply need to make sure we have enough to get our message out, statewide.”
The amendment 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.
Medical marijuana 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.
That means the average Joe wouldn’t be able to go into a pharmacy and get a prescription unless it was approved by their doctor.
Supporters of the amendment say it’s long overdue for patients who desperately need medical marijuana to provide relief from their medical conditions.
Opponents of Amendment 2 say the initiative’s language is too broad and would give “anyone, anywhere,” the ability to purchase medical pot. Vote No On 2 says the amendment is simply a “loophole” which would allow people who aren’t doctors the ability to prescribe medical marijuana.
Florida voters will cast their ballots for the amendment this November. Recent suggest over three-quarters of Florida voters would support legalizing medical marijuana.
