{"id":1233,"date":"2016-01-28T15:32:33","date_gmt":"2016-01-28T15:32:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cannachronicle.com\/?p=1233"},"modified":"2016-01-28T15:32:33","modified_gmt":"2016-01-28T15:32:33","slug":"medical-marijuana-will-be-on-the-2016-ballot-in-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannachronicle.com\/2016\/01\/28\/medical-marijuana-will-be-on-the-2016-ballot-in-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"Medical Marijuana will be on the 2016 Ballot in Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"

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For anyone still wondering if Medical Marijuana will be back on the ballot this election,<\/p>\n

the answer is a resounding YES! The Florida Division of Elections has confirmed that United for<\/p>\n

Care has turned in the 683,149 valid petitions to qualify for the ballot. With a petition drive<\/p>\n

that began in the summer of 2015 and ended at the New Year, over 1 million people in Florida<\/p>\n

signed a petition to put medical marijuana back on the ballot. Chair of United for Care, John<\/p>\n

Morgan, was instrumental in providing the necessary funds to initiate the process while donors<\/p>\n

big and small helped pushed to efforts to over the top. Between private contractors working as<\/p>\n

paid petitioners and dedicated organizers working with thousands of volunteers state-wide,<\/p>\n

people who care about this movement braved the elements day in and day out to get us here.<\/p>\n

Thanks goes out to all who have had a hand in achieving this milestone, yet, there remains<\/p>\n

much work to be done.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now, the advocacy side of the campaign begins. Sixty percent of Florida voters need to<\/p>\n

be convinced that medical marijuana is a necessity. Last election cycle was heartbreaking to<\/p>\n

see the ballot amendment fall short by two percent. The Florida Legislature has had two<\/p>\n

legislative sessions now to address the issue and the Department of Health has failed to get the<\/p>\n

Florida CBD industry running due to a corrupt licensing process. All these factors will play into<\/p>\n

this election cycle as to why people should VOTE YES on Amendment 2.<\/p>\n

Of all the factors in this election cycle, the most pivotal will be the increased turnout<\/p>\n

due to it being the year we elect a new President of the United States. With the race shaping<\/p>\n

up to be one of the most historic, it remains to be seen if the increased turnout will drive<\/p>\n

support or opposition votes. If you support Amendment 2, get active and get involved. Help<\/p>\n

out United For Care, NORML, or any other advocacy group supporting efforts to see cannabis<\/p>\n

reform a reality in Florida.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Christopher Cano, CannaChronicle Staff Writer &\u00a0Executive Director – Central Florida\u00a0NORML<\/p>\n

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