Pubdate: Fri, 02 Aug 2013
Source: Tallahassee Democrat (FL)
Copyright: 2013 Tallahassee Democrat
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/hdEs6Z0o
Website: http://www.tallahassee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/444
Author: Jeff Burlew, Democrat senior writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/John+Morgan

MORGAN SPARKS INTEREST IN PROPOSED MARIJUANA AMENDMENT

The man behind the latest push to legalize medicinal marijuana in 
Florida, trial attorney John Morgan, made his case before the Capital 
Tiger Bay Club on Thursday, prompting inevitable pot-laced punchlines 
along with some serious discussion.

Morgan, a major Democratic Party fundraiser who also happens to be 
former Gov. Charlie Crist's boss, said medical marijuana is the only 
drug that eases the suffering of people who are terminally or 
chronically ill, from cancer patients to quadriplegics. He said his 
late father, who was staunchly anti-drug, found relief from marijuana 
when he was dying from cancer and lung disease.

"We know from clinical tests everywhere that medical marijuana 
works," Morgan told club members during their meeting at the 
University Center Club. "And most importantly, it works for the 
people who need it most."

Morgan, known for his ubiquitous "For the people" TV ads pitching the 
Morgan & Morgan law firm, is chairman of People United for Medical 
Marijuana (PUFMM), which is trying to get a constitutional amendment 
on the ballot in 2014 legalizing the cultivation, purchase, 
possession and use of the drug to treat a variety of serious 
illnesses and diseases.

In the past, efforts to get the proposal on Florida ballots have gone 
up in smoke. But Morgan, who declined an ambassadorship after raising 
big bucks for President Barack Obama's campaign, predicted he'd be 
able to get a million signatures for the ballot initiative before a 
Feb. 1 state deadline.

"That's not going to be a problem," he said. "We're getting an 
unbelievable amount of volunteers who are incredibly passionate about 
this. How well we can coordinate them will be the other story. So 
we'll see what happens."

The state requires 683,149 valid signatures for the amendment to be 
placed on the ballot. So far, PUFMM has turned in 31,181, according 
to the Florida Division of Elections website. PUFMM will be using 
paid signature-collectors to help reach its goal, and Morgan 
estimated the effort would cost millions, or roughly $2.70 for each 
paid signature.

Morgan said he didn't think the ballot measure would have a major 
impact on Crist's chances should he run for governor. Crist joined 
Morgan & Morgan after losing a U.S. Senate bid in 2010. But the 
connection between medical marijuana and gubernatorial politics 
wasn't lost on the Tiger Bay crowd.

"Some have been quoted saying that the legalization of marijuana is a 
way to drive Democratic voters to the polls in 2014 to defeat Gov. 
Scott," said Steve Birtman, incoming club president, "while others 
say the only way Gov. Scott can win is if the entire state of Florida 
is stoned."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom