To: The Citizens, Churches and Non Profit Organizations in the State of Florida
From: Frank Paul Jones - President of the NCNCHINC
RE: Federal Marijuana Bill HR 2306 and Florida State of Florida Medical Marijuana Petition:
Date: 5 August 2013
AMarijuana Report on Federal Bill -
HR 2306 & Florida Medical Marijuana
A must read for the chiefs with an attention span:
HR-2306:To limit theapplication ofFederal Lawsto the distribution and consumption of Marijuana,and for other purposes.
Medical Marijuana in the State of Florida Petition:
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On 23 June 2011; Rep.Ron Paul(R-Tex) and Rep. BarneyFrank (D-Mass), introduced a bill sponsored by Rep. Barney Frank, that wouldend the prohibition of marijuana by theFederal Government of the United States of America. It would remove marijuana as a controlledsubstance and limit the Federal Governments role to interstate transport,leaving the states with the rights to legalize the drug.
Now in the State of Florida a non profit organization known asUnited for Care,being backed by John Morgan a famous personal injury lawyer is sponsoring a petition that will legalize marijuana for medical purposes in the State of Florida. They need 700,000 signatures on the petition by February 1st, 2014, to get it on the November 2014 ballot and then 60% of the votes to make this law, here in the State of Florida. And money is needed to create the buzz necessary to get the word out across Florida.
It will be an uphill battle because still over 600,000 signatures are needed at the time of this writing, but it can be done. But I am a man of vision and see this as an opportunity for us to create more political empowerment in poor communities across the State of Florida and America. Because this is a relevant issue in the Hip Hop Community, whereby many of them are absent at the voting booths.
It is my position that legal marijuana for medical purposes, is a major step towards the legalization of marijuana period. I believe that marijuana will be as big to America as the common aspirin. Marijuana has so many wonderful and proven medical uses, as you will see at the end of the article, which means if this bill is passed, many people who use it now will be able to use it legally for medical purposes in the future, without committing a crime in the process.
I realize that many people are against this bill because they are against drugs. But a drug is a drug and the pharmaceutical industry is booming, selling drugs that are doing more harm than good in many cases. They are pushing many drugs that have awful side effects that are laterally killing people. If you are against drugs you are against the pharmaceutical industry which is a war you can never win. So take a reality check on the subject and at least read my argument as to why this is so important and is in need of the attention of all people who care about our youth as well as the many sick people these bills will help.
What many peoples concerns are, is that many of our youth use marijuana as a recreational drug. Yet on the same page they realize we for example in the black communities across the country, live in a sick community and society. We are infected with diseases of single parenthood, crime infestation due to illegal drugs and I say again illegal drugs, an enormously high illiteracy rate causing super high unemployment, redlining practices eliminating any chance for new investments on the properties in our communities that are being condemned everyday. So I ask is their abuse really recreational or are they sick in need of professional care?
It is my position that, we do have a problem with our people self sedating themselves. But the reality is that we are a sick community of people and it would be better if these drugs were administered by a doctor to address the many aliments that exist within our communities. A fight for marijuana is a fight to better our community and not to worsen it. Marijuana is here and is not going away, the question is, are the oppressive laws that are incarcerating our youth going to be eliminated. Anyone against the legalization of marijuana is against black people in general, because the drug is not going away, our youth are sick and are self medicating due to oppressive laws, repressive laws and their station in America.
Only six out of ten Americans have a job today, therefore the actual unemployment rate is 40%, it is probably more like three out of ten in the black community or 70% unemployment. These are the real numbers! This is the reason for so much hopelessness. Legalized marijuana will not restore hope in itself, but it would reduce the incarceration rate of our youth, giving them a chance at life, which is too often stolen due to the law of the land. And like any medications, often other services are required, meaning in some cases psychological and/or psychiatric help will come with the prescriptions and man y of the problems faced by our youth could be addressed professionally.
I wrote the NAACP about this matter, I want to know their position on this agenda. Mr. Al Hinson, the President of the NAACP here in Avon Park, FL., recently addressed the lack of minority representation here in Avon Park, FL. And was only able to produce ten bodies at that City Council meeting. The NAACP is weak here in Highlands County and in the nation, only because they are out of touch with today's relevant issues concerning our youth and because of that they are not able to reach our younger population, who are AWOL at the voting booths nationwide. Why? Because they are still fighting for Martin Luther King's dream and not the dream of our younger generation. This is not the 1960's, we are in the 21st century. We must attempt to reach our youth, which will be the leaders of tomorrow. They are crying out for help, but are being ignored due to the arrogance of yesterday's leaders who are dying off due to old age.
For complete story go to article on website:
Federal Marijuana Bill HR 2306 and the State of Florida Medical Marijuana Petition
Frank Paul Jones