GROUP PUSHING FOR LEGALIZATION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN FLORIDA

Advocates across the state are trying to legalize medical marijuana in
Florida.

More than a dozen states have enacted laws that legalize medical
marijuana, yet the contentious nature of the issue could put a wrench
in the People United For Medical Marijuana's statewide campaign.

Kim Russell, chairman of PUFMM, said organizers are circulating a
petition for the 2010 electoral ballot asking residents to legalize
medical marijuana. They are looking for signatures to expand the right
of growing, purchasing and possessing marijuana for medical needs.

"Patients need a safe, affordable and effective medication. We hope
Florida will lead the nation in marijuana research to further its uses
as a medicine," she said.

According to Russell, marijuana was made illegal in 1970 under the
Controlled Substances Act, but scientists continued researching its
effects.

A lawsuit later brought the creation of the Compassionate
Investigational New Drug Study, a program that doles out FDA-approved
medical marijuana to patients struggling with glaucoma and other disorders.

Russell said public opinion polls PUFMM has consulted have shown that
72 percent to 80 percent of respondents are in favor of legalizing
medical marijuana.

"There is absolute support, we just have to get everyone organized,"
she said.

Besides the ballot initiative, PUFMM is asking people to write their
representatives in hopes of getting a bill pushed through the
Legislature rather than a full ballot amendment.

The group is conducting most of its marketing campaigns
online.

"We are hoping they will submit a bill rather than a ballot
initiative," Russell said. "The Internet is a huge resource for us."

Not only would legalizing marijuana for medical purposes reduce health
care expenses, she said, but it would supplement another $1 billion
into the tax base - funds that could be used for education or
health-related investments.

If the petition is successful, there could be far-sweeping changes in
state laws related to marijuana.

The Florida Office of the Attorney General stated that it could not
provide any analysis of the initiative because the office had not yet
received the petition.

While many parts of Florida are more conservative than progressive
areas of the United States that have approved the use of medical
marijuana, Russell said she is not concerned that her initiative will
bring forward a backlash of negative sentiment.

"I am not concerned," she said. "We have so many sick people who are
willing to stand up, put their faces on camera and show what a sick
person looks like."

Russell started the initiative after her father was diagnosed with
Parkinson's disease and denied medical marijuana, even though it would
have prevented him from receiving brain surgery.

"This isn't an option for him," she said. "He had an option of moving
to one of the 13 states where it's legal."

The states that have legalized medical marijuana include Alaska,
California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New
Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

Though the use of medical marijuana has not been legalized, Maryland
allows medical use defense in court and Arizona allows physicians to
prescribe marijuana.

Advocates have suggested that medical marijuana is a treatment for a
number of disorders. It is most well-known for cases of glaucoma,
where it relieves intraocular pressure, but it has also been tied to
treatments for Alzheimer's, arthritis and cancer.

According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, there have been no
studies to support the effectiveness of marijuana for these patients
and the risks associated with addiction or regular smoke inhalation
outweigh the results.