Three wealthy people donated 98.5% of funds to oppose FL marijuana initiative.

[madfloridian]

There is huge support for this initiative.

Florida poll: Most back legal marijuana

According to a Quinnipiac University poll released Monday, 55 percent of Florida voters back legal possession of small amounts of recreational pot, compared with 41 percent who oppose it.

The results show a split along generational lines, something also reflected in national numbers. Florida voters under 30 are the most supportive of legalization, with 72 percent favoring legalization of small amounts of recreational marijuana and 25 percent opposing. Fifty-nine percent of Floridian voters 65 and older oppose legalization, while 36 support it.

What's amazing to me is that just 3 people have donated 98.5% of the total money against it.

In fact those of us who are in support of the initiative are receiving frequent emails to donate so we can stay up financially with the opposition.

Here are the 3 who are fighting hard against the majority of Floridians.

Supporters, opponents kick in $7.6 million in Florida medical pot debate

The first is very disappointing to me. She is the daughter of Publix grocery chain founder, George Jenkins.

The Drug Free Florida Committee, spearheading the opposition to Amendment 2, recently pocketed a check for $2.5 million from Sheldon Adelson, chairman and chief executive of Las Vegas Sands Corp. The Carol Jenkins Barnett Family Trust, headed by the daughter of Publix Super Markets founder George Jenkins, gave $540,000. And Mel Sembler, local developer and former ambassador to Italy and Australia, donated $100,000.

The trio accounts for 98.5 percent of the $3.2 million that has gone into Drug Free Florida’s bank account.

The big donors are typically tight-lipped. The Barnett family trust was the only one to respond to a reporter’s inquiries, emailing that the trust “has a long-standing history of supporting efforts to protect Florida’s children and families against the dangers of drug abuse.”

Mel Sembler has had enough problems with his own attempts to run drug abuse programs.



Mel Sembler Is the Last One Who Should Influence Florida Drug Policy

As I've already written, for 16 years he and his wife Betty directed the leading juvenile drug rehab business in America, STRAIGHT Inc., which prosecutors closed in 1993 after reports of sexual abuse, beatings, prisoner-of-war-style torture and unrelenting cover-ups. Despite the six-figure settlements that sucked the business dry, the 40-plus client suicides, the clinic licenses state health officials yanked, Sembler not only found a way to escape punishment, but he defends his program to this day.

In fact, the program legally changed its identity to the Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF). Director Calvina Fay denies it's the same organization, but the name change is listed in corporate filings. DFAF no longer treats clients, but it's still a major player in shaping domestic and international drug policy.

Please don't think the case against STRAIGHT is just rumor, or political nonsense. Florida’s Bureau of Criminal Justice Planning and Assistance found that most cases of child abuse at Straight had been substantiated; that even though STRAIGHT received federal grants, it had "disguised" client fees as "donations"; that in its first 18 months of operation STRAIGHT had enrolled 450 teens but only one had been black; that Sembler had violated federal conflict-of-interest regulations because federal grant money was to be used for "salaries only," but STRAIGHT had put the money in a single bank account along with other STRAIGHT funds at First Bank of Treasure Island. Worse still, Mel Sembler was on the bank's board of directors.

And Sheldon Adelson? Well, I'll just let Jon Stewart explain that guy.



Must-see morning clip: Don’t pick on Sheldon Adelson!

There is a video.

The libertarian Koch brothers aren’t exactly in need of defense, but on Tuesday Jon Stewart had to call out Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for condemning the billionaires while, in the same breath, lauding anti-union billionaire Sheldon Adelson — whose “social views are in keeping with the Democrats,” according to Reid.

Confused, Stewart asked “Daily Show” correspondent Jason Jones, “Isn’t it hypocritical for Harry Reid to draw distinction between Sheldon Adelson’s money and the Koch brothers?”

Jones had to explain away Stewart’s naiveté: “Because Sheldon Adelson’s money and power help Harry Reid. The Koch brothers’ money and power don’t. So the Koch brothers are corrupt. Pretty simple concept to grasp there, Jon.”

I know there are many smaller donations to the Yes on 2 group led mainly by John Morgan.

But if 98.5% are donated by those above, that's a small percentage left for small donors.

[BlueJazz]

1. Publix is my favorite food store. Rats. I'm gonna' have to think about this.

[madfloridian]

2. I think the Publix owners need to rethink some decisions lately.

I have always felt I could depend on them to restock a product if there was demand. Now they don't. Disappointed in their failure to stand with the Immokalee Coalition, the union, and buy their tomatoes.

Instead of having quality products, they seem to be becoming more gimmicky...not sure if that is the word I mean. They have a cooking school (a good one), send emails about new ways to order stuff....but there are not the usual helpers in the stores if you need them. Not like there used to be. The ones who are there are very helpful, go out of their way but there are fewer of them.

The Hollis families and the Barnetts seem to compete to see who can have the nicest park in their names in downtown Lakeland, and I think other cities around. Nothing wrong with that, but be sure the stores are up to par.

[BlueJazz]

4. I understand what you mean. I've had a feeling for 6-8 months that Publix has...

...cut corners in various ways.
I've always told people that Publix has the best store brand in the business. Now..not so much.
In the past few months, I've noticed their ice cream, fish filets and a few other things have lost that usually Publix "great taste".
You're right about the help. They're wonderful and friendly but some faces are gone and not replaced???
Plus, the store I shop at (St. Pete) has, on 2 recent occasions, spoiled milk.
That's usually caused by leaving the pallets of milk on the dock too long.
Hot Florida sun + Milk + not as many help/people to bring dairy product into cooler = spoiled milk.

I hope all this is just my imagination but....

[cstanleytech]

9. I know in my area alot of the faces have changed as well but they also transfered

a bunch of people around and to new areas as they are expanding into North Carolina so I assume some of that was due to the transfers.
Overall though they are far better than all of the other competition in the area like Walmart, Food Lion, IGA, Krogers and Bi-Lo.

[madfloridian]

10. Yes, they are still the best overall.

[DonCoquixote]

12. Bottom line is

Just like Alice Walton, this lady cannot admit that she could not do what her father did, so she tries to make an impact another way, which is to say, enforcing the power structure, as opposed to helping stop the poverty that makes crime.

[madfloridian]

17. Good point.

[YOHABLO]

11. Publix is way over priced in my opinion.

[BlueJazz]

20. I usually wait for the 2for1 sales and such plus the store brand...still...

What you say is true.

[daleanime]

3. K&R....

[AverageJoe90]

5. I'm surprised none of them had any connections.....from what it seems.....

To the alcohol and tobacco industries; almost to a T(with Philip Morris being a rather rare exception), they'd been both the primary supporters of marijuana prohibition, and amongst the primary supporters of keeping it illegal.

But the tide is turning in favor of legalization, slowly, but surely.....

[eggplant]

7. Does Publix sell beer? n/t

[tkmorris]

15. They are a grocery store

All grocery stores here in Florida sell beer. I don't know what Publix does in other states.

[eggplant]

18. So they would be motivated to keep weed illegal.

[itsrobert]

26. I thought pot gives people the muchies

I guess Jack in the Box benefits more than a grocery store?

[4b5f940728b232b034e4]

6. That last guy looks like pure evil

Almost like a bad guy out of Star Wars.

[Go Vols]

8. I say fuck all these sorry M'fuckers

The US imprisons more per capita than any country on earth.

Not cool.

[madfloridian]

13. Oops looks like photobucket very slow or down. Pictures come and go.

Sorry about that.

[Boreal]

14. Talk about some sickening characters

I don't know anything about the woman from Pulix and I don't live in FLA but I'll bet Publix sells booze. What's with these people who justify booze being legal, with drunk drivers killing people all over the place, but weed is bad?

That guy who ran the torture camp for teens should be in prison. I've read about a lot of these terrible places and the fucking establishment supports them until they get exposed and shut down and then nobody goes to prison. What a monster.

Adleson and Harry Reid, eh? Interesting but not surprising. I think of Reid as practically a Nevada crime boss, himself and Adleson is like some godfather. He was a Romney backer, if I'm not mistaken. He was also a supporter of Chris Christie until Christie referred to Gaza and the West bank as occupied territories (which they are), at some Repuke affair in Vegas, and Adleson cut off his support. Adleson is a Zionist and huge supporter of Israhell so that ugly truth that Christie spoke to was not going to be tolerated and Christie got the boot.

That the woman from Publix associates with these two creeps doesn't say much for her so I'll assume she's a dirtbag, too.

[madfloridian]

16. Actually she's a pretty classy lady, but I so disagree with her stance.

Whether she intends to or not she speaks for Publix.

[JaydenD]

19. Likely they are invested in the prison factory industry

easy to get new recruits who break stupid laws coming in to work for nothing or little for corporate gain.

[jwirr]

21. Very political. If a southern state legalizes it will help legalize the other states down there,

especially when the tax money comes flowing in.

[madfloridian]

25. Yes, very political.

As long as I remember (well, actually pretty much back to the beginning of Publix)....the Publix leaders have been very Republican, very religious.

[whistler162]

22. Just go to show you.....

they ain't all bad!

[Laelth]

23. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[madfloridian]

24. .......

Appreciate the k&r...things drop quickly around here now.

[DirkGently]

27. Also disappointed in Publix.

Overall it is a good grocery chain. The employees in particular seem far happier than, for instance, the bleary-eyed people trudging around at Wal-Market (although haven't been in one of those in years).

[madfloridian]

29. Overall very good. But about a deli experience...

I love their deli subs, make them as you go at the deli counter. But one day I asked them if they had a softer sub, that the ones they have had were so hard and crusty. The guy said, we wish we did. He said that they have to use what the bakery gives them. I said what if I buy hoagies, could you make me up a couple of subs on them. They are usually soft at the bakery.

He said no, they were not allowed to do that.

I asked the managers at 2 of the stores here, and I was told the same thing. Not long ago, I would have been told to get my hoagies they would be glad to make my sandwiches on them.

Sounds like a needless new rule.

[madfloridian]

28. More on Sheldon Adelson...

FL-Gov: Sheldon Adelson, Scott's (R) Biggest Donor, Funds FL Anti-Medical Marijuana Campaign

Gambling mogul and GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson has spent $2.5 million to oppose Florida’s medical marijuana ballot initiative, according to filings reviewed by the Tampa Bay Times. The major donation signals what may be the most moneyed opposition to a medical marijuana initiative yet. It also comes from a particularly unlikely source.

Adelson spent nearly $150 million to elect Republicans in 2012, but he has veered away from targeting cultural issues. He made his billions on gambling — considered a vice by most — and describes himself as “socially very liberal. Too liberal” — a refrain he has repeated over the years.

Adelson doesn’t appear to have staked a position on marijuana. But his contribution may have more to do with the governor’s race, which pits Gov. Rick Scott (R), a vocal opponent of the initiative, against former Gov. Charlie Christ (D), who announced his support in January. Polling shows support for medical marijuana is soaring among Floridians, and many have projected that the initiative could swing the outcome of the race, in large part by boosting youth turnout.

Adelson is backing a committee known as the Drug Free Florida Committee formed by Mel Sembler. That committee has raised a total of $2.7 million so far, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Sembler, who bankrolled opposition to Colorado’s recreational legalization initiative, once oversaw a chain of drug abuse treatment centers for teens, at which allegations have emerged of beatings, rape and psychological abuse. A separate opposition movement was also announced Tuesday by the Florida Sheriffs Association to defeat Amendment Two, with the slogan “Don’t Let Florida Go To Pot.”

[hay rick]

30. K&R

And a quick hello. I don't post much now and probably won't until November 5 at the earliest. Keep up the good work.

[madfloridian]

31. And hello back.

In our county they are coming up with all the evil things marijuana can do. They even put up a video in the paper showing that John Morgan used cuss words at a rally.