Pubdate: Fri, 16 May 2014 Source: Palm Beach Post, The (FL) Copyright: 2014 The Palm Beach Post Contact: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/333 Author: John Kennedy Page: B2 ANTI-MEDICAL MARIJUANA CAMPAIGN GETS $100,000 TALLAHASSEE - The Vote No on 2 campaign was launched Thursday, opposing the medical marijuana constitutional amendment slated for the November ballot. Early leaders of the effort include Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, a Brevard County doctor and wife of former Senate President Mike Haridopolos, Florida Sheriffs Association leaders and Tre Evers, a Republican political consultant from Orlando and former official in President George W. Bush's administration. The campaign's financing so far comes from the Drug Free Florida Committee, recently launched with a $100,000 check from Republican donor Mel Sembler, a St. Petersburg developer. But Republican politics swirling around medical marijuana have grown complicated. The GOP-led Legislature gave the green light this month to a measure legalizing a strain of non-euphoric medical marijuana to be used by cancer patients and those suffering from severe epilepsy. The effort was widely seen as directed at potentially blunting support for the November ballot proposal - which some see as bringing some voters to the polls that may be more inclined to vote for Democrat Charlie Crist over Republican Gov. Rick Scott. The petition drive that created the ballot measure was spearheaded and largely financed by John Morgan, the Orlando trial lawyer who employs Crist. The governor has said he will sign the non-euphoric strain into law. But he is opposed to the more sweeping constitutional amendment that would allow sufferers from a wide range of illnesses to obtain prescription pot. The Vote No on 2 campaign isn't mentioning the legislation headed to the governor, although those close to Sembler say he opposes any effort to soften Florida drug laws. The campaign condemns the ballot proposal as a "cleverly veiled attempt to legalize marijuana in Florida for anyone and for any reason." Vote No is up with a website: VoteNo2.org. But as the campaign unfolds, organizers are expected to weigh-in with TV spots opposing the ballot measure. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt