Comments on: Poll: Overwhelming Support For Medical Marijuana In Florida

By: Carolyn Ruckman

Carolyn Ruckman — Sun, 07 Sep 2014 20:46:10 +0000

I SUPPORT MEDICAL
was paralized when 24 /got off all RX drugs/ took almost a year to walk well again… smoked for 18 years… worked 2-3 jobs for that period…
when they passed a law that law would take everything you own… i threw it out of window and stopped went to legal medicine, a year to the day almost… started having problems with back again… went to over 80 doctors in the last years… till 2009… after they almost killed me o d ing me… twice with MORPHINE PUMP… being put on disabiltiy… now i have bended knees/ hip problems / insides rotted out./ no teeth… etc… due to making me a junky for morphine… after second time of almost dying from this… in 2009 finally found a doctor from Andrews Institute that took out morphine pump and i worked my self off of morphine in THREE WEEKS… now i have nothing but hell… so PLEASE PLEASE… PASS MEDICAL — IT WORKS… thank you… longing to be without pain once again… it is a pain killer… a muscle relaxer… it has too many benefits… GOD MADE- not man made RX… etc etc… will NOT kill you… I changed doctors and have not been back to a doctor since 2009… thank you… Sincerely Carolyn A. Ruckman, Pensacola FL

By: Reality Check

Reality Check — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 01:36:21 +0000

This is clearly a healthcare issue and not a criminal justice issue. I understand that there are many people who are rightfully concerned about the abuse of this substance, but I have to say that there is already an abundant amount of abuse from many other substances that are completely legal. People would be wise to do research for themselves and ponder the effects of both alcohol and pharmaceuticals. I don’t see a difference between this and alcohol. Especially, when one considers the amount of deaths and violence from the aforementioned. Pot is not the culprit behind mass waves of crime. Actually, when considered, many of the true elicit drugs were invented/manufactured by scientists and doctors to treat ailments and addictions. It is just my opinion, but I feel the argument against any use of marijuana is inconsistent with what is currently mainstreaming. Potential for abuse=food, guns, alcohol, opiates, aerosol, caffeine, tobacco, shopping, hoarding, exercising, and etc. Overdose=Non existent (even if 1000 people died tomorrow directly from it, which wouldn’t happen, the numbers still do not compare with say tobacco). If you choose not to use it, fine, but please let us not tell other tax paying Americans how to live their life. Smaller government, remember. Also, maybe the state might benefit from an unfatigued court/prison system.

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 18:03:31 +0000

CONSIDERING:
“The only reason there is so much support is because everyone that illegally uses it thinks it will be easier to continue to do so.”

Assuming they are also registered voters?
Regardless, they are probably right.

Nonetheless, surely some support comes from those who believe the substance can relieve pain and suffering and there may be some who figure it is none of their business as long as it doesn’t harm or endanger others.
If it DOES harm or endanger others, that would be a separate question just as getting drunk is frowned upon but allowed, whereas getting drunk and driving is prosecuted.

Some opposition may be coming from those knowing they will lose customers if folks know they can get safer and cheaper dope from other sources.
(Makers of aspirin never encourage others to use Tylenol.)

Most likely, the difference between those who favor legalization for recreational usage and those who favor legalization for medicinal usage is the people who are thinking of it for relief of pain and suffering. And the ones who oppose it regardless are the ones who don’t believe it works or don’t care if people suffer needlessly.

As a proper Baptist, I’m not going to use in either instance, of course, but that’s the difference between thinking something shouldn’t be done and thinking we should tell others they CAN’T do it lest they enjoy themselves.

David for care for others

By: perdido fisherman

perdido fisherman — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 16:13:09 +0000

Seems to me a couple of people here are still eatting up the propaganda that has kept this plant from being used as the medicine it has to the potential to be. I for one am sick of the lies that has been spread by lawenforcement in order to keep the inflated budgets from being cut.
When are people going to realize that prohibition fuels crime and causes more harm than legalization. History has consistantly shown that prohibition does not work, it only makes things worse.

By: Cruzin892002

Cruzin892002 — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 05:50:56 +0000

The only reason there is so much support is because everyone that illegally uses it thinks it will be easier to continue to do so.

By: tammy

tammy — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 16:30:10 +0000

Paratus should be mad about all the people that are hooked on heroin that the doctors gave them. Now that those pills are so expensive, people are switching to street heroin. Paratus should be quiet for a while.

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 15:19:04 +0000

Since I don’t have a degree in statistical research, an interesting website for calculating margin of error with 95% certainty, given a population size and sample size can be found at:

http://americanresearchgroup.com/moe.html

Plugging in 11000000 (eleven million registered voters) and 1251 (the number of people randomly polled) gives 2.77% margin of error.
So give or take that percent, that is the expected range for the entire population of registered voters.

Just for the fun of it, plugging in a random sample of only 100 yields a margin of error of 9.8 so if only 100 were randomly sampled and if the percentage was the same, the actual answer even in that small sample could range as high as 97.8% (most unlikely) and as low as 78.2% (still far above 60% required for passage).

Running the polling size up to 100,000 — as No Excuses with a degree in statistical research suggested — would drop the margin of error down to 0.31%. Thus, this vastly greater polling would only reduce the margin of error with 95% confidence level from 2.77% down to 0.31%. If the result were closer to 60%, that would make sense, but from 88% it would not make sense to spend 80 times as much money for such a small decrease in margin of error.

Methodology might be questioned, but sample size seems sufficient.

David for square roots
and round pies

By: Mike J.

Mike J. — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 14:02:01 +0000

“If you don’t like it then don’t smoke it. Nobody is going to shove it in your face.”

Actually, the vehicle driver high on your newly legal pot will be doing exactly that when they crash into your car at 40, 50, 60+ mph. Legal pot just gives people another product and excuse to drive impaired. We already have legal alcohol and laws against alcohol impaired driving. But does that stop the vehicle manslaughter? NO. So now we add another substance/product to the list that will also be legal to use at home but will be illegal to use while driving. Yes, people are already doing this but the deaths will increase because most people won’t have the self-control. I know someone who was crashed into and injured by a driver high on pot.

Better make sure your car insurance is paid plenty for collision including hit-and-run as well as liability to the max. My car insurance just went up $142 a year when I have no tickets or accidents since 1999. They told me it’s because of increased claims and accidents in Florida. It will probably be higher next year. Thanks a lot.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 07:34:32 +0000

55% of Florida voters want full legalization. So, that 55% voting block is a complete lock no matter what is said or done. Leaving only 5% needed to win. The Quinnipiac poll showed support at 88% YES 4 months ago back in March. After 4 months of all out assault and mud slinging from the NO side, the new current July 28th Quinnipiac poll shows support at 88% YES. The 4 month 3 Million Dollar assault had a net gain of 0%. Only 3 months left to go. The guy above trying to act like the Quinnipiac is an unknown poll must be in pain, because past results show the Quinnipiac polls to be one of the most accurate polls in America and a well known poll in past political elections. A google search of —> Quinnipiac poll will educate.

By: XD9RACER

XD9RACER — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 03:39:27 +0000

As soon as it is legal to buy for the medicinal effect then all of the citizens in the state having the desire to smoke it will suddenly contract an ailment that medical marijuana will help alleviate their pain will be heading to their doctor to obtain a prescription for it. Does this mean the people that have a job where random drug checks are conducted will suddenly be exempt from the testing because they now have a prescription. This ruling will create so much more revenue for the state but where will it be earmarked to go. It will be campaigned and lobbied as to help or go to something just like the lottery was to go to the public schools but the proceeds are all going to the people promoting it and the advertising billboards we see all across the state as if it is still new and very few have heard about it. This is just a new gimmick to make the backers of this fat and rich while allowing the users to be legally stoned out of their mind then hurt others by accidents on the road or doing crimes to obtain the money to buy the stuff. SMOKE ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM.