Former Governor and current gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist (D. FL) went up a few points in my book:
http://news.wjct.org/...
Charlie Crist joined Melissa Ross to talk about the race and take listener calls, including one regarding his position on medical marijuana.
"This is an issue of compassion," Crist said when asked how he felt about the medical marijuana initiative that could come before state voters at the same time he is seeking election.
"You have people who feel that if there are people who are suffering through pain or lack of appetite, and you have a real doctor who prescribes medical marijuana, then I don't know why you would really be opposed to it, and so I'm not opposed to it," he said, citing recent poll number showing over 80 percent of state residents in support of the measure.
"I think it's fine," he said, adding that he supports the approval of using the drug for medical treatment only as prescribed by a physician. - WJCT News, 12/2/13
Well said. I was surprised to hear that Crist supports medical marijuana. I never would expect that from him. But then I did a little research and he's always been supportive of the issue:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/...
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich, a former Senate minority leader, says she supports a proposed ballot initiative that would legalize medical-marijuana in Florida. Former Gov. Charlie Crist, who is expected to officially begin his gubernatorial run as a Democrat on Monday, also has expressed support for the proposed constitutional amendment.
While Rich and Crist back the amendment, some of the state’s top Republicans are trying to keep the issue off the November 2014 ballot. Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, made a filing with the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday that supported Attorney General Pam Bondi’s attempt to block the constitutional amendment. The Republicans contend that the ballot language would deceive voters about the reach of the amendment.
The ballot proposal has been spearheaded by Orlando trial lawyer and Democratic donor John Morgan, whose firm employs Crist. The Supreme Court will hear arguments about the ballot language Dec. 5. - The Palm Beach Post, 11/2/13
And then i did a little more research and found that Crist's people are the ones pushing for medical marijuana to be on the ballot:
http://www.tampabay.com/...
John Morgan, a major fundraiser for President Barack Obama and the boss of former Gov. Charlie Crist, is taking the reins of a Florida medical marijuana initiative, promising to pump major money and political muscle into the popular issue.
Morgan, a top Florida trial lawyer based in Orlando, said he's ready to tap a network of donors and his personal bank account to get the measure in front of voters in 2014 as a proposed constitutional amendment.
"I can get the money. I have the money. I will be joined by people with money who will help," Morgan said. "I've been very fortunate in life, and I can make it happen."
It could cost as much as $3.5 million to fund paid petition gatherers to collect the valid signatures of 683,149 Florida voters needed to get a measure on the ballot. An ad and absentee-ballot campaign could cost up to $10 million more.
Constitutional amendments need to be approved in Florida with 60 percent of the vote. - Tampa Bay Times, 3/16/13
And Morgan is really going to push hard to make medical marijuana a serious campaign issue:
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/...
Orlando trial lawyer and uber-fundraiser John Morgan said Thursday he will likely spend "a lot of money" financing a ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana use in Florida.
Morgan, a longtime fundraiser for Crist who hired him at his powerhouse law firm after Crist's unsuccessful 2010 U.S. Senate race, made the trip to the capital city to tout his support for a 2014 ballot measure that would to de-criminalize marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Morgan described to the crowd of lobbyists and politicos how both his father and brother had suffered from cancer and injuries and turned to marijuana to find relief from their pain.
"This service is going to give thousands of people who are sick, hurting and injured, peace at the end of their lives," he told a packed auditorium.
Morgan has already contributed $150,000 of the $216,000 that People United for Medical Marijuana, the organization pushing the amendment, has raised this year, and he said he would likely spend much more. The group has collected only about 31,000 of the 683,149 voter signatures required to make next November's ballot.
"I'm probably going to spend a lot of money, but if it passes a lot of people are going to be better off," he said. - Orlando Sentinel, 8/1/13
And that's great news because medical marijuana is pretty popular in Florida:
http://www.miamiherald.com/...
If a medical marijuana initiative makes Florida’s ballot next year, it could pass with an astonishing 82 percent of the vote, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday that finds voters also favor outright legalization as well.
Support for the proposed constitutional amendment is strong among voters of every political stripe, age and income level, with independents lending the most support: 88 percent, the poll shows.
The overall 82-16 percent support for medical marijuana is the biggest to date. The previous high-point for Florida approval was about 70 percent in a poll taken earlier this year by the medical-marijuana advocacy group, People United for Medical Marijuana.
There are some differences in wording between the initiative and the Quinnipiac poll; the amendment says doctors can "recommend" marijuana, the poll asks if a doctor should be able to "prescribe" it.
Still, medical marijuana is clearly popular. And marijuana legalization is becoming more-liked as well, albeit narrowly.
Nearly half of Florida voters favor it — 48 percent — while 46 percent oppose pot legalization for personal use. That’s within the margin of error, but it’s a leading indicator of a shift in public opinion. Support for legalization is again strongest among independents (57-37 percent), and then Democrats (55-39 percent).
But Republicans are opposed 30-64 percent. Contrast that with GOP voter support for medical marijuana is solid: 70-26 percent.
One early poll and analysis from People United found that medical-marijuana was so popular that it could alter the course of the governor’s race.
Republican Gov. Rick Scott opposes medical marijuana; Democrats Charlie Crist and Nan Rich support the initiative, which is funded and led by Crist’s employer, trial attorney John Morgan, a Democratic donor. A major Florida Republican donor, former ambassador Mel Sembler, is opposing the measure through his Drug Free America Foundation. - Miami Herald, 11/21/13
Now when he was a Republican, Crist did not support medical marijuana and of course he'll be hounded for flip flopping on this issue. But will it hurt him?
http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/...
Kevin, a Hollywood resident, says he began giving his grandfather marijuana for his glaucoma.
"It started to get extremely painful recently," Kevin tells New Times. "He's had procedures done, but they haven't relieved the pain.
"Honestly I don't trust any politician," Kevin says. "But a lot of folks have flip-flopped on the medical marijuana issue."
So would Kevin vote for Charlie and His Newfound Love for Medical Weed?
"Yeah, I'd vote for him. Because fuck Republicans, really."
In March, Florida state Sen. Jeff Clemens introduced a bill that would allow patients with certain qualifying medical conditions to privately and legally possess medical marijuana. The bill was shot down by the Legislature, but Clemens echoed the sentiment of what most Floridians are thinking.
"When a patient comes into your office and tells you all the meds that they're taking don't work, don't relieve their suffering, but marijuana does," Clemens told New Times, "it's hard to look at that person in the eye and not do something about it.
"It's about compassion."
The latest Public Policy Polling poll says that 60 percent of Floridians favor the legalization of medical marijuana.
With that many people coming around and understanding the importance and benefits of medical marijuana, does Crist's flip-flopping on this issue matter?
Probably not. - Broward Palm Beach New Times, 11/4/13
I for one applaud Crist for changing his position on this. We really need more politicians to be more supportive of medical marijuana. It's right for the country and it shows that you're in touch with the public. Not to mention timing is everything:
http://www.wokv.com/...
In a legal battle whose social and political shadings have drawn an all-star cast of combatants, the Florida Supreme Court this week will consider a measure asking voters to allow doctors to prescribe marijuana for a range of illnesses.
Much of Florida’s Republican leadership is being joined by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the state’s medical association and law enforcement organizations in fighting the proposed 2014 ballot measure.
On the opposite side, leading Democratic donor John Morgan, an Orlando trial lawyer close to former Gov. Charlie Crist, is bankrolling the campaign. Crist, previously a Republican while governor, is now running for the office as a Democrat.
A former Democratic House Speaker, Jon Mills of Gainesville, will make the campaign’s case before justices on Thursday. - WOKV, 12/2/13
I for one hope to see medical marijuana pass in Florida and this now puts me more on Team Crist. I don't know where Senator Bill nelson (D. FL), who is considering the race, stands on this issue but this only solidifies my support for Crist. If you would like to donate or get involved with his campaign, you can do so here:
http://www.charliecrist.com/