cannabisnews.com: Public Support for MMJ is Reaching New Highs
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Public Support for MMJ is Reaching New Highs
Posted by CN Staff on August 15, 2014 at 14:49:50 PT
By Sean Sullivan and Scott Clement
Source: Washington Post 
USA -- The legalization of medical marijuana has broad support from the American public. But Republican presidential contenders aren't so high on the idea. Former governor Jeb Bush just came out against amending the Florida constitution to legalize medical marijuana. In a Thursday statement, the Republican said the move could reduce the number of tourists and businesses that come to the state.“Florida leaders and citizens have worked for years to make the Sunshine State a world-class location to start or run a business, a family-friendly destination for tourism and a desirable place to raise a family or retire,” Bush said. “Allowing large-scale, marijuana operations to take root across Florida, under the guise of using it for medicinal purposes, runs counter to all of these efforts."
Bush isn't the only potential White House hopeful to express skepticism about medical marijuana. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) recently called his state's medical marijuana program "a front for legalization." However, Christie signed a bill last year that removed some hurdles keeping children from getting medical marijuana. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said he supports medical marijuana -- but only non-euphoric strains, meaning he opposes the Florida ballot measure. Still, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) said earlier this year that he was open to the idea, as long as it is strictly controlled. And Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) teamed up with Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) to spearhead a measure that would prevent the Justice Department from fighting states that have legalized medical marijuana.Voters will decide on the Florida measure, known as Amendment 2, at the ballot box this fall. Numerous polls show Floridians overwhelmingly support allowing medical marijuana, including Amendment 2, specifically. Majorities of Republicans support it, the surveys show.And polls show medical marijuana has broad support nationwide. Eighty-eight percent in a January CNN-ORC poll said adults should be allowed to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if their doctor prescribes it, just 10 percent were opposed. Among Republicans, 84 percent supported medical marijuana while 14 percent were opposed.You'd expect presidential candidates to be on board with an idea that's literally more popular than apple pie. So why isn't the crop of potential GOP White House hopefuls -- including Bush -- on the same page as the rest of the public (and really, the rest of their party)?One answer is that candidates can be pretty slow to shift their position on social issues. Another is, well: the money. Medical marijuana has encountered opposition from the business community, which is a very influential donor pool for Republican candidates. The Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida and the Florida Trucking Association are each, along with Bush, part of the coalition opposing Amendment 2.Is medical marijuana going to be a big issue in the 2016 primary? Not likely. If anything, it will be part of a broader debate on the drug -- which is legal for recreational use in Colorado and the state of Washington -- and legal penalties for using it, policies Paul and others want to reform.Still, it's another reminder of the small but notable differences between the potential candidates that could surface on the trail.Sean Sullivan has covered national politics for The Washington Post since 2012.Source: Washington Post (DC)Author: Sean Sullivan and Scott ClementPublished: August 15, 2014Copyright: 2014 Washington Post CompanyContact: letters washpost.com Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ URL: http://drugsense.org/url/wPJzYVWzCannabisNews  Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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Comment #3 posted by swazi-x on August 17, 2014 at 12:51:04 PT
Let 'em Blow!
This issue might be the golden bullet for sanity to return to our government.Ok, that's a little much to expect, but it's lovely to hear these prohibitionist morons spout off against allowing access to cannabis for us. They're unwittingly digging their own political graves - the research has been done, the facts are out there and those of us interested at all know them, and the lies of the past decades these tools are parroting only show their ignorance and duplicity.I'm overjoyed Jeb Bush is so vocal against cannabis - it's a gift to the quickly growing majority of voters who demand access to this plant and is a direct indication of his intentions for us down the road. If you value your health you know how to vote. Couldn't be clearer.Even the half-stupid assertion that CBD-only strains and medicine are all that should be available will not fly. That's the beauty of our favorite plant - there are so many active substances in it (not just CBD) that ignoring the others in favor of one or two is ridiculous. Our masters have one by one been converted from idiot-prohibitionists to MMJ supporters - but only when one of their own is helped, or sometimes saved, by the effects of this plant. That's how selfish these jerks are - the issue only matters when it's their friend or relative, not when it's our friend or relative that suffers without this plant's help.That said, may each prohibitionist-schlub have a friend or relative stricken with a serious illness that is subsequently cured by cannabis. It's the only situation with the energy enough to make it through the massive density of bone in our masters' heads.
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Comment #2 posted by runruff on August 15, 2014 at 18:30:55 PT
Selling crap!
As long as people keep buying pork rinds, pork rinds will be on the shelf! 
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Comment #1 posted by Oleg the Tumor on August 15, 2014 at 17:16:13 PT
What a Piece of Spin! Will this crap never end?
“Florida leaders and citizens have worked for years to make the Sunshine State a world-class location to start or run a business, a family-friendly destination for tourism and a desirable place to raise a family or retire,” Bush said. “Allowing large-scale, marijuana operations to take root across Florida, under the guise of using it for medicinal purposes, runs counter to all of these efforts." Currently, Florida's senior citizens who utilize cannabis must pay the black market suppliers with their Social Security money!The idea that cannabis removes something from "proper society" is a leftover racist belief from a distant age that is getting further and further away.
Large scale grow operations mean jobs in a variety of industries. Does anyone really think that folks will avoid going to Florida just because pot (might become) legal there?Spring break at Daytona Beach just wouldn't be the same with weed in the air, would it?Never mind "the guise of using it for medicinal purposes",
what about Freedom? Free the Prisoner of Schedule One! 
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