Will Florida Voters Add Medical Marijuana to State Constitution?

Will Florida Voters Add Medical Marijuana to State Constitution?

The video above features Irvin Rosenfeld, a man who the Los Angeles Times described in March 2015 as “one of only two people in the nation still actively involved in a federal program that supplies marijuana free to patients suffering from certain diseases.” As Rosenfeld describes in the video, he was chosen to be one of the patients to use medical marijuana grown at the University of Mississippi because he suffered from a rare bone disorder. 

The political advertisement above was paid for by People United for Medical Marijuana, a Florida-based political action committee (PAC) seeking to legalize medical marijuana. The PAC is strongly supporting the Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative, or Amendment 2, which voters in Florida will be deciding the fate of on Tuesday. 

If passed, Amendment 2 would allow for medical use of marijuana by individuals with debilitating medical conditions as determined by licensed Florida physicians. A debilitating medical condition is defined as “cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or other debilitating medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable to those enumerated, and for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient.”

Pensacola Marijuana Defense Attorney

While 57.62 percent of Florida voters approved the similar Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative in 2014, that total did not satisfy the 60 percent supermajority necessary for an amendment to pass. Numerous polls in recent weeks have shown Amendment 2 to have the support of more than 70 percent of likely voters. 

Without Amendment 2, cannabis remains a Schedule I controlled substance under both state and federal law in Florida. People who are arrested for being alleged possession of it can face serious criminal penalties as well as multiple long-term consequences if convicted. 

Were you arrested in Escambia County for alleged possession of marijuana? It will be in your best interest to contact a Pensacola marijuana attorney as soon as possible for help fighting to possibly have the criminal charges reduced or dismissed.