The Tampa Bay Times editorial rejecting the premise of Amendment 2, the medical marijuana initiative, certainly has alienated the paper from a certain segment of its readership, if letters to the editor (and online comments) are any indication. The Times also upset environmentalists with its rejection of Amendment 1, which would dedicate a third of doc stamp proceeds on land transactions to an environmental trust fund to buy and restore conservation and recreation lands.Among those respectfully disagreeing with the paper's non-"recommendation" on Amendment 1 is St.Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. In a letter published in this morning's Times, he writes about the St. Pete area being "blessed with abundant waterways, rivers, estuaries and natural lands, which many of us enjoy on a daily basis," but adds that "many Florida waterways and springs are choked with pollution. That's why we need to make protecting these resources a top priority. Amendment 1 — Florida's Water and Land Conservation Amendment — does exactly that, without raising taxes."
But the mayor isn't about to tell you what to think about Amendment 2, the medical marijuana initiative that has been the focus of intense attention this fall.
"Each one of us will be casting a vote on Nov. 4 on that amendment and a number of other positions," Kriseman told CL last Thursday at an event regarding the Agenda 20/20 plan. "I'm not taking a public position for or against it. What I encourage people to do, like I do on every issue, is: educate yourself, don't listen to the rhetoric, try to get to the facts and then make a decision on what you think is best for our community."
Kriseman's preference not to comment is in contrast to his friend across the Bay, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, who told CL last week that he vehemently opposes the measure, saying, "It's hard for me to explain why I would legitimize what is a drug."
Among the loudest public officials opposing Amendment 2 is Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gaultieri.
"This is all about trying to get something on the ballot to get something legalized under the guise of calling it 'medical something' so people can sit around on Saturday night with a bunch of marijuana cigarettes and get high recreationally. That's really what it's all about," the sherifftold CLback in June.
The measure appears to be in serious trouble. A Times poll conducted recently has the measure at 48 percent. Other polls show the measure doing better, but still below 60 percent, the margin needed to pass.