If you've never seen and heard John Morgan make a public speech, you ought to sometime. Profane, emotional, biting, sometimes inaccurate and often hilarious, the Orlando-based attorney came to the St.Petersburg Yacht Club on Wednesday for a Tiger Bay Club speech to sell what he is calling the case of his public career — advocating for Amendment Two, the constitutional amendment for medical marijuana that will be decided on November 4."It works," he said about why he's such ardent proponent of medical marijuana in Florida, to the tune of nearly $5 million out of his own pocket. As in virtually every appearance he makes when discussing the topic, Morgan gets personal in describing how both his father, who had cancer and emphysema and ultimately passed away, and his brother Tim who is a quadriplegic, have both found pain relief in cannabis. "For many people, this will be a remedy at the end of your life, or when you're fighting for your life." He referred several times to the fact that people right now in Florida are using pot for medical relief, at the risk of losing their careers or, in some cases, their freedom.
Medical marijuana first came to the U.S. via the ballot box in 1996 in California, and since then 22 other states have followed suit, with others like Florida debating the issue this year at the ballot box. In 2012, Colorado and Washington, two states that previously approved medical marijuana, went a step further and outright legalized the herb. Morgan says that critics of the ballot measure frequently invoke California as an example of how not to implement the law, but says that's not an apt comparison.
"Everybody wants to talk about California, California, California. Nobody talks about Arizona," he said, or most other states that have implemented medical marijuana laws. "You know why? Because it's not a problem!" And he said that Colorado is now frequently invoked by critics because of that state's outright legalization of pot. "They want to mix apples and oranges," he said of such critics.
Those critics weren't far away, as several members of the No on 2 campaign held signs in front of the Yacht Club before Morgan's speech began.
"We feel like 'Charlotte's Web' was a huge step for our Legislature," said No on 2 and Don't Let Florida Got to Pot volunteer Ellen Snelling, referring to the bill that the Florida Legislature passed this year that legalized non-euphoric medical marijuana to treat Florida patients with epilepsy, other neurological disorders and cancer. "This is a huge leap to go on to Amendment Two, because it's really too broad and to put it into the Constitution, that's what has us so concerned, because once you do that, it's impossible to change."
A Tampa Bay Times editorial recommending that voters reject the proposal also referred to having the Legislature, and not the public via constitutional amendment, craft such a bill. But Morgan says that isn't about to happen.
"These people up there are more worried about the next election," he charged. "They're more worried about getting money from the tobacco industry, Duke Energy, State Farm and Allstate," referring to companies or industries that send campaign contributions to elected officials.
Regarding that Times editorial, Morgan said he was disappointed to read that, saying he's not sure who the paper's publisher is but "these publishers tend to be to the right of Dick Cheney, " but added that a lack of newspaper endorsements didn't hurt Rick Scott in 2010 (The Times is owned by the nonprofit Poynter Institute).
A ubiquitous public figure for years in Florida due to his broadcasting ad budget, Morgan scored major laughs throughout the proceeding. When asked by USFSP political science professor emeritus Darryl Paulson to choose what would be the more important electoral decision this fall — the passage of Amendment Two or a gubernatorial victory for his friend Charlie Crist, Morgan replied that he would use Rick Scott's famous line: "I would like to plead the 5th Amendment on that."
Asked his opinion about politicians who switch their political parties to gain a new job, Morgan said, stonefaced, that "Personally I'm a great admirer of Ronald Reagan," invoking large laughs. "I'm highly offended when people attack him now that he's dead."
When asked if he would himself ever consider a run for governor he quipped that "someone asked me one time if I was worried 'about skeletons in your closet.' I said shit no, I'm worried about last Friday night biting me in the ass."
Morgan has been on the road a lot this year advocating for Amendment Two, sometimes on college campuses like USF (as he was on Tuesday) and often debating opponents like Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, who he said frequently brings up the issue with how kids will have access to pot if the law passes, and says it's similar to arguing about protecting guns.
"They say, the argument with the gun people, keep their guns. You know what the arguments against it? Our kids will get their hands on the guns? No, they won't. Grady always talks about gummy bears. Grady, here's what you've got to tell the kids: Lock the medical marijuana up. Lock the gummy bears up with the guns and everything will be fine."
And for those who still remain undecided about the initiative as election day beckons, Morgan suggested that they view some broadcasts made by CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who famously reversed his position on pot, and is now an advocate. "If you're on the fence, watch one of his specials ... you will cry. Tears will be rolling down your face, and I promise you, I guarantee you, you'll vote yes."