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People United for Medical Marijuana
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| People United for Medical Marijuana | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Orlando, Florida |
| Type: | PAC |
| Top official: | John Morgan, Chair |
| Founder(s): | Kim Russell |
| Year founded: | 2009 |
| Website: | Official website |
As of 2016, People United for Medical Marijuana was a Florida-based PAC that seeks to legalize medical marijuana. The PAC also lead the United For Care Campaign, which was a campaign advocating for the passage of Florida's medical marijuana initiative in November 2016.[1]
Background
People United for Medical Marijuana was founded in 2009 by Kim Russell, who served as the PAC's first chair.[2] In 2016, the PAC was chaired by Orlando attorney John Morgan of the law firm Morgan and Morgan.[3][1] Ben Pollara managed the United for Care campaign.[4][1]
Political activity
Ballot measure activity
2016
In January 2016, the PAC's chair, John Morgan, had announced that the petition to place the legalization of medical marijuana on November's ballot had met the required number of signatures.[4] The measure, Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative, Amendment 2 provided for the "medical use of marijuana for individuals with debilitating medical conditions as determined by a licensed Florida physician. Allows caregivers to assist patients’ medical use of marijuana. The Department of Health shall register and regulate centers that produce and distribute marijuana for medical purposes and shall issue identification cards to patients and caregivers. Applies only to Florida law. Does not immunize violations of federal law or any non-medical use, possession or production of marijuana."[1]
The PAC noted that it had changed its strategy "to reach out to older voters to educate them on the good medical marijuana can accomplish with pain management."[4]
2014
In 2014, People United for Medical Marijuana campaigned in support of Florida's Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative. The amendment needed a 60 percent vote to pass, but received only 58 percent.[4] Morgan stated that the PAC had helped people register to vote who "never registered before." He estimated that "turnout [would be] two, three, maybe even four points higher than we might have seen, but for this."[5]
Overview of ballot measure support and opposition
The following table details People United for Medical Marijuana's ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:
| Ballot measure support and opposition for People United for Medical Marijuana | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballot measure | Year | Position | Status |
| Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization, Amendment 2 (2016) | 2016 | Supported |  Approved
|
| Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative, Amendment 2 (2014) | 2014 | Supported | 
|
Leadership
Below is the People United for Medical Marijuana leadership as of 2016:[1]
- John Morgan, Chairman
- Ben Pollara, United For Care Campaign Manager
Finances
For an overview of the People United for Medical Marijuana's finances, click here.
The Sunshine State News reported in June 2016, that the committee had raised $3.7 million as of June and had spent $3.65 million collecting the 683,000 signatures required to put the initiative on the ballot in November.[6]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'People United for Medical Marijuana'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative, Amendment 2 (2014)
- Florida Medical Marijuana Legalization, Amendment 2 (2016)
- Drug Free Florida Committee
- John Morgan (Florida)
- Barbara Stiefel
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 United for Care, "About," accessed July 20, 2016
- ↑ Department of State, Florida, "Campaign Documents Search, PAC Statement of Organization (filing date:February 23, 2009)," accessed July 20, 2016
- ↑ Morgan and Morgan, "John Morgan," accessed July 20, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 The Orlando Political Observer, "John Morgan lays out path to victory for medical marijuana in Orlando," January 28, 2016
- ↑ Huffington Post, "Florida Marijuana Campaign Heats Up, Could Raise Turnout For November Election," September 26, 2014
- ↑ Sunshine State News, "Medical Marijuana Campaign Heats Up in May Fundraising," June 13, 2016
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