How will new pot stance affect Florida?

[Weedpipe]

Advocates for medical marijuana are hoping that the federal government's decision to no longer prosecute medicinal users in states that allow such use will help bring the issue to a vote in Florida.

People United For Medical Marijuana-Florida must collect nearly 700,000 signatures by Feb. 1 to trigger a state referendum next year on whether to allow medical marijuana in Florida. So far, however, the group has collected 28,213 signatures.

Kim Russell, founder of the group, said that the announcement Monday by the federal government that it will not prosecute medicinal users legitimizes efforts to get a medical marijuana law on the ballot here.

"It certainly helps our cause," Russell said. "We're going to get it on the ballot here. Once we get 100,000 signatures, national groups have said they will help fund our effort. If we don't get it on the ballot in 2010, we definitely will in 2012."

Meanwhile, Gov. Charlie Crist took a far different view of the federal government's policy change, noting that it will only affect states that have approved marijuana for medicinal purposes.

"I think it's good that we're not one of those states," Crist said. "I don't think that is an appropriate thing."

But Anthony Veigel, 40, who heads the pro-marijuana group's Venice chapter, said he hopes that the decision will help ease the fear some residents have about signing the petition.

Veigel said he has collected about 200 signatures in Venice the past three months, but 300 others declined to sign.

"The sad part is that many of those were users," Veigel said.



News Hawk- Weedpipe http://www.420Magazine.com
Source: Herald Tribune.com
Contact:Sarasota Florida News, Sarasota Weather, Sports and Business | HeraldTribune.com | Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Copyright: 2009 HeraldTribune.com
Website:How will new pot stance affect Florida? | HeraldTribune.com | Sarasota Florida | Southwest Florida's Information Leader