Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam won't push for a new state crop if the medical-marijuana constitutional amendment measure reaches the ballot next year.
The amendment is being driven by People United for Medical Marijuana, headed by powerful trial lawyer John Morgan. The group is gathering signatures in hopes of being placed on the 2014 ballot.
The amendment would allow those with chronic medical conditions to buy marijuana. Putnam says it makes no sense for the state to spend millions of dollars on ad campaigns to get kids to stop smoking cigarettes, while legalizing weed at the same time. He also says that prescription drugs can help ease the pain of Floridians with terminal or debilitating conditions.
"It’s my understanding that those pharmaceuticals already exist, that have harnessed the chemical properties of marijuana for pain relief without the social issues that go along with having marijuana shops next to your Taekwondo and gymnastics studios", Putnam said.
Putnam says a federal law banning marijuana use has not been enforced in other states that have recently legalized weed. The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments on December fifth about whether the proposed constitutional amendment should go before voters.