Medical Marijuana Supporters Continue Fight for Amendment 2
Posted October 23, 2014 07:52 am
Medical Marijuana Florida 2014
TALLAHASSEE, FL - Marty Monroe credits medical marijuana for getting her through the toughest moments of cancer. She and other advocates want Florida patients to have the option to use medical marijuana if it's prescribed by their doctor.
Amendment 2, on the Nov. 4 ballot, would legalize the use of medical marijuana in Florida. Monroe went through seven rounds of chemotherapy and says the herb helped her body recover so she could continue with her treatment.
Marty Monroe
"You can just call me a criminal," she says. "It was criminal activity, but I had compassionate friends that cared enough about me that wanted to help me get through that next round of chemo."
A recent University of Florida poll found 48 percent of
Floridians support the constitutional amendment, which
is shy of the 60 percent needed for it to pass. So far
23 states and the District of Columbia have legalized
medical marijuana, and advocates say it's been shown to
be effective for the symptoms and side effects of
cancer, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, glaucoma and chronic
pain, among others.
Opponents are concerned about the abuse of medical
marijuana by people who don't have a medical need.
Ben Pollara, director of United for Care and People
United for Medical Marijuana- the PAC supporting the
Amendment - says saying "yes" to Amendment 2 is about
compassion for people who are sick.
"People are sick and suffering and dying in the state of
Florida and medical marijuana may be able to help them,"
he says. "If their doctors recommend they use it, they
should be able to do so without them having to fear
arrest."
Monroe says she finds it ironic the people fighting
against an herb are comfortable with the toxins involved
in traditional cancer treatment.
"It just amazes me how these people are so whacked out
over an herb and really don't care about the chemicals
they're pumping my body with to quote 'cure us,'" she
says.
Supporters of medical marijuana point out no one has
ever died of a 'marijuana overdose,' and the herb offers
relief from nausea, appetite loss, eye pressure in the
case of glaucoma, a reduction in muscle spasms, and
relief from chronic pain.
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