Pubdate: Thu, 20 Feb 2014
Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL)
Copyright: 2014 Orlando Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/325
Author: Scott Powers
Page: B3

REP. BRACY PLANS TO PROPOSE LAW LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA

Saying it is time to expand the discussions of marijuana to broader
social and criminal justice issues, state Rep. Randolph Bracy of
Orlando said Wednesday he intends to propose legalizing recreational
marijuana use in Florida.

Bracy, a Democrat, said he will introduce a bill this week to legalize
recreational marijuana use for adults in private settings.

He said he expects state Sen. Dwight Bullard, DCutler Bay, to file a
companion bill in the Florida Senate.

"I'm not under the illusion that this would pass," Bracy said. "But
it's more so to get a start to the conversation, and maybe get it down
the line."

Specifically, Bracy wants to raise issues about reports that law
enforcement of marijuana laws tend to hit minority populations
disproportionally; that social costs of a minor marijuana possession
convictions hurt individuals for much of their lives; and that
legalizing recreational use, as Colorado and Washington are doing, can
create new jobs and state revenue.

Bracy said he believes Florida is moving toward public support for
recreational marijuana use, even if the Legislature is not.

Yet his proposal is making both opponents and proponents of medical
marijuana nervous.

"We think this is a really bad idea," said Calvina Fay, executive
director of Save Our Society From Drugs, which argued against the
medical marijuana proposal in the Florida Supreme Court. "This follows
the course of what we've seen in other states. ... This issue of
marijuana being legalized for medical use is a steppingstone for
legalization of recreational marijuana."

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws - Florida,
says the bill could reinforce that argument, unnecessarily, against
medical marijuana.

"My concern is that the patients who really need it medically, that
this may slow the process up," said NORML-Florida Director Karen Goldstein.
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MAP posted-by: Matt