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Empowering People

The right to be part of Mel Sembler step in to fund of the legislature did they pass any laws. reform. Ballot initiatives are vital to mak-
the democratic process is the fight against medical They are continuing to deny the will of ing sure that our legislature understands
something that makes marijuana. These people the people, despite 71% of the people in that if they do not act that they do not
America a great country. then influenced the current Florida voting yes on Amendment 2. protect the patience and institute the will
Controversies over law our legislator passed. They have continued their reign of the people that the people themselves
reform have existed since We may not have the ability throughout the 2018 legislative session will rise up and will pass an initiative
the beginning, the demo- of the millions of dollars to despite facing approximately a dozen that do.
cratic process allows the influence politicians, but we lawsuits, and continuing to lose and We must push this issue through all
laws and acceptable do have the power of the spend the tax payer dollars to defend methods, voting, supporting candidates,
norms in society to people. This election season against the will of the people. The ballot lawsuits and ballot initiatives.
evolve. The same is true the cannabis community initiative dictates to the legislature and If you believe in this movement and
with cannabis, yet there needs to come together would immediately give people the right want to ensure patients have access to
is still much work to be behind candidates who sup- to cultivate. We must start planning for medical marijuana and want to support
done. We can choose MICHAEL C. MINARDI port this issue and get them the future we must get organized and people who choose cannabis, please join
right not to make sure it elected to make sure that active NOW, not tomorrow or next year. Regulate Florida, NORML of Florida,
happens sooner rather than later. We are our interests are not only represented at That is why Regulate Florida, a ballot ini- and the Cannabis Executive Committee.
winning on multiple fronts, public opin- the ballot box but also in the legislature. tiative for adults use is so important, at a These organizations are dedicated to
ion, science, and the proof in other No prohibition without representation. minimum it would give people the right making sure the voters are educated for
robust cannabis markets. Where we are It's about time the patients and people to grow and smoke cannabis, and it this election season and that we put peo-
losing is in the legislature, and we have who use this plant because they choose would clearly require a horizontal mar- ple in to the legislature that support the
the ability to change that. The question is to do so or need to do so for medical pur- ket and it would instantly solve problems will of the people and the expansion in
how? For those of us in the cannabis poses make these candidates take a we are currently having under the cur- the right of people to use this plant.
industry this election year is shaping up stand. There are many ways that we can rent amendment. This right through a
to be hugely important for how this do this NORML of Florida, has released ballot initiative is not something we Michael Mindardi, Esq., Minardi Law, can
industry is shaped in the state of Florida. candidate grades on cannabis, the should take for granted, but something be reached at Michael@MinardiLaw.com or
As Floridians we are lucky to have mul- Cannabis Executive Committee, newly we should make sure we have hanging (813) 995-8227.
tiple ways that we can influence policy. launched, to bring together those who over their head to further influence
We enter an election year where the support expanding and opening up the
main concern of voters are the economy, cannabis industry. The legislature is
immigration, gun control, the environ- against everyone's interests, and this leg-
ment and health care. Cannabis and islative session they will probably work
hemp as cash crops have shown to be the on preventing hemp CBD companies and
boost many states have need to be back an open horizontal market form existing.
on track, reductions in health care costs, They will continue to prevent access and
prescription drug deaths, less violent companies from making edibles and real-
crime, and increase in tourism and tax ly the proliferation of this plant that vot-
dollars are all seen time and time again in ers approved. Only with placing the right
legal states. We can and should have that people in office and supporting organiza-
in Florida. tions that can support them with greater
The problem is, unfortunately, our leg- breadth will we be able to make sure that
islators who get elected are those that this industry evolves the way the voters
have certain ideologies that are support- believed this industry would.
ed by people with big money, big money The second way we have to change
as against us. Like an Arizona when their policy is with a ballot initiative for a vote
adult use petition was on their ballot on a constitutional amendment. Only in
they had big pharma step in, here in years where we have had a ballot initia-
Florida we had Drug Free America and tive for cannabis hanging over the heads

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