Poll: 88 Percent of Florida Voters Support Medical Marijuana
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
By: Amy Kiley

July 29, 2014 | WMFE, Orlando -- A new poll from Quinnipiac University shows 88 percent of Florida voters support legalizing medical marijuana. That could have political ramifications for a state with high-ranking leaders who oppose that change.

The poll shows four out of five Republican voters support allowing marijuana use for health purposes.  But, Governor Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Assembly Speaker Will Weatherford disagree with a proposed amendment to that end.  This November, they’ll be up for reelection, and that initiative – will be on the ballot.

POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS

90.7 Political Commentator Dick Batchelor says that could lead to nuanced positions.  “You’ve got to be very careful of how you tease it out.  Now, having said that, you can say, ‘Narrow it down.  Make it prescriptive.  If it’s only medical marijuana, we can support it.’”  He adds, “I think they’re going to have to do that.”

Florida already has a new law allowing Charlotte’s Web – a noneuphoric marijuana strain.

Batchelor says Florida’s GOP leaders probably won’t back recreational cannabis.  The Quinnipiac poll indicates 55 percent of Florida voters do favor it, but, Batchelor says, some wealthy GOP funders – don’t.

CRITICS OF THE NUMBERS

On the other hand, Kristen Bridges says the poll and the ballot measure don’t use the same language.  She’s a spokesperson for Vote No on 2.  She says, “This poll continues to be a complete outlier in support of medical marijuana because it asks a question that won’t be on the ballot.  To be clear, Amendment 2 does not require a doctor’s prescription.”

The Quinnipiac poll asks if people should be able to use cannabis, “…if their doctor prescribes it.”

Amendment 2 allows marijuana use, “… as determined by a licensed Florida physician.”