By Jacob Engels
Proponents of a bill by Senator Jeff Clemens and State Representative Katie Edwards to allow Florida to prescribe marijuana for medicinal purposes are concerned their bill will not get a fair hearing in the Florida State Senate. “That bills goin’ nowhere,” said one senior African American State Senator. “It’s DOA.”
The legislation is named for Cathy Jordan, who lives in Parrish, Florida and suffers from Lou Gehrig’s disease. Jordan and her veteran husband Robert are long-time advocates for medicinal marijuana, which they claim has greatly eased her suffering. On the day the legislation was introduced the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office raided the wheelchair-bound Cathy Jordan’s home. Wearing ski masks and jack boots the sheriff’s SWAT team confiscated six marijuana plants. The Manatee County prosecutor has not yet filed charges against the Jordans for possession and cultivation of marijuana. Robert Jordan told reporters his wife is non-functional without it and that prescription medications had only destroyed her quality of life. “It’s medicine and she should have it,” said Jordan.
Meanwhile, Tampa super-lawyer John Morgan of Morgan & Morgan, a heavyweight Democratic fundraiser, and Kim Russell, a member of the Orange County Republican Executive Committee, will work together to put a constitutional amendment to allow a Florida doctor to prescribe marijuana for medicinal purposes on the 2014 ballot. Morgan will chair the effort while Russell serves as Deputy Treasurer.
Polling reported by the Miami Herald, taken by veteran Democrat pollster Dave Beattie, showed 71 percent of Floridians would vote for a constitutional amendment which would legalize the use of the plant or its active ingredient for medicinal purposes in Florida. The committee PUFMM has not released their final ballot language yet, but say they are confident they will meet the legal requirements and collect sufficient valid citizen signatures to put the question on the ballot in 2014, the same year as the Florida governor’s race.
Jacob Engels, is the Founder of East Orlando Post. Along with the Post, he owns several other businesses and is currently enrolled at Valencia College. Jacob has lived in Avalon Park since it’s founding and enjoys playing with his black Labradoodle Jasper, listening to indie rock, and seeking out new business ventures. He can be reached at info@eastorlandopost.com
