Florida Baptist Convention opposes Amendment 2

The Florida Baptist Convention has issued a resolution in opposition to the marijuana Amendment 2. John Sullivan in an email to all Pastors and Church leaders states, “The following resolution, which calls for the defeat of Amendment 2 – that seeks to legalize marijuana for “medicinal purposes” in Florida – was adopted by the State Board of Mission on September 19, 2014.”

Florida’s Baptist Pastors and Church leaders are now taking a political stand and asking all their member to vote no on Amendment 2.

The basis of the opposition is on the broad nature of the Amendment, which in effect legalizes marijuana for recreational purposes. For 23 years it has been legal to use of marijuana for medical purposes in Florida. The Florida legislature during the 2014 session, expanded use of non-addictive marijuana derivatives for medical purposes only.

The following is the full text of the resolution:

RESOLUTION TO OPPOSE THE LEGALIZATION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

WHEREAS, the November 4, 2014, General Election ballot will contain Amendment 2 – the so-called Florida Right to Medical Marijuana; and

WHEREAS, the ballot initiative seeks to permit persons with nine specific medical conditions to have unlimited access to medical marijuana; and

WHEREAS, the Amendment also provides that medical marijuana can be dispensed without a physician’s prescription for broad but undefined “other conditions” which can include anything from back pain to trouble sleeping; and

WHEREAS, so-called caregivers will be legally permitted to dispense the drug to up to five persons without legal regulation; and a caregiver can be anyone from a felon to a drug dealer; and

WHEREAS, the State Board of Missions has individual and corporate empathy for those Floridians suffering from debilitating diseases, but the Board does not believe legalizing an addictive drug without strong regulatory oversight is an appropriate solution; and

WHEREAS, the effort to legalize marijuana is contrary to the interests of the public health, safety and welfare, and will adversely affect the rights of citizens to live and work in a community where drug abuse is not accepted and citizens are not subjected to the adverse effects of the drug abuse; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED that the State Board of Missions of the Florida Baptist State Convention, go on record to oppose Amendment 2 that will appear on the November 4, 2014, General Election ballot; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board call upon Florida Baptist pastors to diligently encourage their church members to promote and vote to defeat Amendment 2; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Board request the Executive Director-Treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, to take all reasonable actions to notify and create awareness among Florida Baptists on the importance of voting against Amendment 2.

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