(FL) Parrish couple become brand name in state call for medical marijuana

For the fourth year, Democratic legislators and advocates for medical marijuana are pushing for a measure to legalize the drug. What makes all of them more hopeful about success this session is the Florida Right to Medical Marijuana Initiative amendment, which will be on the ballot Nov. 4.

"We've seen a seismic shift in how the Legislature is beginning to look at these issues," said state Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, at a press conference Monday to announce his 157-page bill, the "Cathy Jordan Medical Cannabis Act" (Senate Bill 962), with House sponsor state Rep. Joe Saunders, D-Orlando.

"This bill puts patients before politics," said Robert Jordan of Parrish, whose wife, Cathy, has been helped by medical marijuana for decades while living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Saunders named his bill for Cathy Jordan.

With Robert, a Vietnam vet, Cathy has been fighting to legalize marijuana from her wheelchair for more than two decades. She was by his side at Monday's press conference.

Last year, law enforcement seized marijuana plants from the Jordans' house in Parrish but charges were dropped.

Read More: http://www.bradenton.com/2014/02/12/4987214/parrish-couple-become-brand-name.html