Take two. Or is it toke two?
It didn’t take long for Service Employees International Union of Florida, the union that represents doctors, nurses and healthcare workers, to announce support of round two for Amendment 2, the measure on this November’s ballot to allow medical marijuana in Florida.
On Jan. 27, medical pot made it back on the ballot for another try after failing with only 58% of the state vote in 2014. A Florida constitutional amendment requires a 60% or higher.
Less than two weeks later on Tuesday, SEIU Florida announced their endorsement of the measure, which would give doctors the right to recommend medical marijuana for their patients. Among it’s 55,000 members, which also include janitorial workers at campuses and malls, are working and retired healthcare workers.
Read related story: Medical marijuana opposition reaches out to Hispanic voters
“The Use of Marijuana for Debilitating Medical Conditions ballot initiative is about compassion and quality of care for patients,” said SEIU Vice President Martha Baker, a registered nurse.
“There are hundreds of thousands of very sick Floridians who will find relief due to this comprehensive proposal. There are 24 other states that have a medical marijuana law,” Baker said. “United for Care is doing the right thing for Florida by bringing this issue to the voters.
“The proposal puts medical decisions back in their proper place — between patient and doctor,” Baker said.
“The endorsement from the union representing the largest number of healthcare workers in the State is particularly rewarding,” read a statement from United for Care campaign manager Ben Pollara. “We will proudly fight alongside SEIU Florida to secure the rights of doctors and their patients with debilitating conditions to make medical decisions without having to live like criminals.
Said Baker: “Seriously ill patients should not have to expose themselves to prosecution for seeking to obtain the medicine they need to relieve their symptoms, and no physician should have to put their freedom or their license at risk for recommending the use of that medicine.”
Read related story: Javi Correoso hopes killing medical pot = presidential job
Proponents believe that healthcare provider played a crucial role in getting so close but no cigar in 2014 and will be vital to getting over the 60% hump in 2016 — already a better year for medical pot because the presidential race brings out more voters. And, in Florida, more Democrat voters, who are more likely to support medical marijuana.
Another benefit for Care Plus: Nemesis Javier Correoso — who worked hard two years ago to defeat the first round of Amendment Two — is a bit busy trying to get Sen. Marco Rubio elected president and won’t have time to fight the medical pot.