ATN: FL residents and those with friends/family there.
Signature Gathering Begins for 2014 Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization Amendment
TALLAHASSEE, FL — The Florida Secretary of State gave final approval Wednesday for signature gathering to begin on a proposed medical marijuana legalization constitutional amendment aimed at the 2014 ballot.
The initiative sponsors, United for Care, have until February 1, 2014, to gather about 700,000 valid voter signatures to place the measure before voters. If activists are successful in placing the initiative on the ballot, it would require a 60% approval from voters to pass.
The campaign is estimated to cost about $3 million, and the group has raised $200,000 so far.
Legal analysts say a successful campaign in the Sunshine State could cost upwards of $10 million, but United for Care’s Joe Morgan, who put his personal fortune behind a successful 2004 constitutional amendment raising Florida’s minimum wage, is not deterred and said he thinks he can recruit an “army of angels” to help gather the necessary signatures for the ballot initiative.
“I think it could be unprecedented in Florida politics, when you have so many volunteers with a passion for compassion out there collecting signatures,” Morgan says. “This will cost me quite a bit of money in proportion to what I have, but if it happens, I see it as political philanthropy – that through politics, a whole lot of good could be done for a whole lot of people for a whole lot of time.”
Volunteers can sign up via their website to help collect signatures and coordinate efforts in their area. The petition is also available online for registered voters in the state of Florida to print out and sign.
http://www.thedailychronic.net/2013/24498/signature-gathering-begins-for-2014-florida-medical-marijuana-legalization-amendment/
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