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Anti-marijuana coalition gains traction

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Voters will be deciding the fate of a broad-based medical marijuana law in a little more than 40 days, and one group's crusade against the drug might be gaining traction.

The Florida Legislature passed a bill earlier this year allowing for low-grade medical marijuana to be used as medicine. The legislation is having trouble getting off the ground thanks to rule challenges and lawsuits.

The "Don't Let Florida Go to Pot Coalition" has been listing off negative effects of marijuana all year.

"Amendment 2 not only legalizes the sale of pot, it also legalizes an entire marijuana industry," said Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger.

The coalition says its anti-marijuana message is working, and they point to recent poll numbers as proof.

The latest survey of likely voters shows Amendment 2 support at 53 percent, with about 15 percent undecided. The measure needs 60 percent of the vote to pass.

"The idea is to have a grass roots campaign, county by county, community by community, neighborhood by neighborhood, to educate people. The more we educate people of the loopholes in the amendment, I think is having a positive effect on the election," Eslinger said.

The coalition envisions a pot shop on every corner if the amendment passes. Dr. Michael Forshoefel said he doesn't see doctors writing kids prescriptions for weed.

"The amendment, I see, is just a way to get (pot) available," Forshoefel said. "It's dangerous for kids, and I see it as a high risk of abuse, potentially."

Another doctor in the group, James Harrell, is married to a state representative. He said his wife's biggest concern is that people think closing a loophole would be an easy fix.

"You're not going to change it without another constitutional amendment," Harrell said.

Ten other states have left medical marijuana up to voters who approved it. In five of the votes, the drug had 60 percent approval going in to the election.