[quirky3]

I heard on the radio this morning that there was a session in Tallahassee yesterday where they presented a petition with enough signatures to put medical marijuana on the ballot in Florida in 2014, on behalf of tens of thousands of people whose suffering can be helped.

[leftyf]

I am from Michigan and once it is voted in for the people who really need it, thousands will suddenly get it. Marijuana shops will pop up all over that will get anybody a prescription for a fee. My brother, who lives in MI, applied for a prescription and got one from a DR in South Dakota that he has never met. His prescription cost him $75. The people in the bars now go outside together to "smoke" about once an hour and they do in right in full public view. I will vote against it until the states starting putting things in place to stop the abuse. Don't forget, these pot smokers will still be working until they get fired for not passing a drug test. Just imagine a pot smoker driving a school bus. Once they can no longer get a job, they go on SSI or disability Social Security because they are "sick".

[rp001]

Originally Posted by leftyf

I am from Michigan and once it is voted in for the people who really need it, thousands will suddenly get it. Marijuana shops will pop up all over that will get anybody a prescription for a fee. My brother, who lives in MI, applied for a prescription and got one from a DR in South Dakota that he has never met. His prescription cost him $75. The people in the bars now go outside together to "smoke" about once an hour and they do in right in full public view. I will vote against it until the states starting putting things in place to stop the abuse. Don't forget, these pot smokers will still be working until they get fired for not passing a drug test. Just imagine a pot smoker driving a school bus. Once they can no longer get a job, they go on SSI or disability Social Security because they are "sick".

Here we go again. Judgement based not on fact but conjecture. It's time to join the 21st century and decriminalize this stuff. For all the conservatives pls realize how this will downsize government and reduce costs associated with ridiculous enforcement policies and penalties.

[janmcn]

Originally Posted by quirky3

I heard on the radio this morning that there was a session in Tallahassee yesterday where they presented a petition with enough signatures to put medical marijuana on the ballot in Florida in 2014, on behalf of tens of thousands of people whose suffering can be helped.

This is the only fair way to handle this decision. Put it on the ballot and let the voters in Florida make the decision. It's how democracy works.

[BobAllen1290]

Originally Posted by quirky3

I heard on the radio this morning that there was a session in Tallahassee yesterday where they presented a petition with enough signatures to put medical marijuana on the ballot in Florida in 2014, on behalf of tens of thousands of people whose suffering can be helped.

"Thousands can be helped" Manure! Thousands will get a free excuse to get high! Just another attempt at spreading the drug culture in America. I hope this latest attempt at giving the druggies a free ride literally goes up in smoke!

[ilovetv]

Don't forget, these pot smokers will still be working until they get fired for not passing a drug test. Just imagine a pot smoker driving a school bus. Once they can no longer get a job, they go on SSI or disability Social Security because they are "sick".

I know people (relatives and former classmates) who have done exactly that.....recreational use/abuse till they're full-fledged burn-outs and now they collect Disability Social Security and MEDICARE, ages 40 thru 60.

Wake up, guys! Medicare is already enough in need of protection from fraudulent claimants and abuse, without legalizing this method of getting it!

[justjim]

A vote is fair and I think it will be close but given the "conservative nature" of many Florida voters---it will fail. That is just my opinion.

[Pepperhead]

The petition only has a little over 100K signatures and they need about 600K to get it on the ballot. They need those signatures validated by the end of January. If it makes the ballot, it will require 60% of the vote to pass. It will happen someday, but in my opinion, not next year.

[bimmertl]

Most recent poll shows majority of US favors legal pot. Not surprising the age group not in favor is those over 65, which would be the majority of people here.

Clear majority favors legal marijuana, new Gallup poll shows - U.S. News

[ilovetv]

Originally Posted by bimmertl

Most recent poll shows majority of US favors legal pot. Not surprising the age group not in favor is those over 65, which would be the majority of people here.....

And this would be because those over 65 have lived and worked and paid taxes long enough to have earned some social security, medicare and self-saved/invested retirement funds know that this should be the concern:

"When everyone climbs up onto the wagon to ride it, who is left to pull it?"

[Bucco]

Originally Posted by janmcn

This is the only fair way to handle this decision. Put it on the ballot and let the voters in Florida make the decision. It's how democracy works.

Normally, I would agree.

However, you and everyone knows how this will, and already has, become POLITICAL..we already have at least one comment on this thread that expressed a political slant.

IF the voters were given facts, not slanted...might be a voting thing, but it will become simply another political football,and folks will NOT VOTE on the merits, but on politics. THIS IS A FACT, not conjecture..and you all know it. There will be a liberal side and a conservative side and voters will vote based on ONLY that (ie., what they were told to think by their specific gurus) and will not even consider any other aspect that should be considered

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by Bucco

Normally, I would agree.

However, you and everyone knows how this will, and already has, become POLITICAL..we already have at least one comment on this thread that expressed a political slant.

IF the voters were given facts, not slanted...might be a voting thing, but it will become simply another political football,and folks will NOT VOTE on the merits, but on politics. THIS IS A FACT, not conjecture..and you all know it. There will be a liberal side and a conservative side and voters will vote based on ONLY that (ie., what they were told to think by their specific gurus) and will not even consider any other aspect that should be considered

I always get a kick out of somebody saying something is fact when it is obviously a strongly believed opinion. Stating that it is "A FACT, not conjecture..and you all know it" doesn't change the fact that it is an opinion.

[Bucco]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

I always get a kick out of somebody saying something is fact when it is obviously a strongly believed opinion. Stating that it is "A FACT, not conjecture..and you all know it" doesn't change the fact that it is an opinion.

I respect you disagreeing with me, but would be interested in why you believe it will NOT become political.

Thanks...very interested because I called it a fact simply because in recent months, the killing of a young boy was political, and i am sure you are able to name many other situations like that. My statement was certainly not political....I ventured no opinion on that, but in today's age, IT WILL BE JUST THAT. BOTH sides, or ALL THREE, depending on how you look at it will voice opinions and spend tons of money to convince us all of their correctness. If the slant could somehow be rinsed of political bias, then fine. BUT ALL republicans will feel the same way, and ALL democrats will feel the opposite, and they will feel that way because they think they have to.

A staunch Republican will listen to Sean Hannity and under ALL or despite all medical opinions will agree with him. A staunch Democrat will listen to Rachel Maddow and under ALL or despite all medical opinions will agree with him.

Know why.....because Hannity will ONLY present to his listeners what helps HIS cause and ignore all other facts or context that might hurt, and Maddow will ONLY present to her listeners what helps HER cause and ignore all other facts or context that might hurt.

THAT is the perpetual circle we are in where we do not vary our input, and thus are not making decisions using our own brains, but are basically "brainwashed" to think the way we are told.

[Moderator]

Too many people turning this into a partisan political discussion.

Thread will be closed.

Too bad, it is/was a topic that could be discussed without introducing politics.