Tue, Oct 21, 2014 @ 12:53 pm | updated Tue, Oct 21, 2014 @ 1:22 pm
The JAX Chamber board of directors formally came out in opposition to the Florida ballot initiative that would legalize the use of medicinal marijuana.
Early voting is already underway this week where voters are considering Amendment 2 on the ballot among other electoral issues and political races with the Nov. 4 election day approaching. But Tuesday, the JAX Chamber officially opposed the referendum question because of its “ambiguity” of wording and, the board said, it would be bad for business, despite figures from the marijuana lobby that state otherwise.
“Passage of Amendment 2 will produce uncertainty for small businesses at a time when we are coming out of one of the biggest recessions in decades,” said Ed Burr, chairman of government affairs for the Chamber.
“Businesses, especially small businesses, need a climate that increases productivity and limits risks and Amendment 2 does the opposite,” Burr said in a news release.
The local chamber’s position presents no radical departure from the general position of chambers of commerce across the country. The Florida Chamber already has asked voters to vote against the measure and many are opposed to the ballot question.
JAX Chamber President Daniel Davis said shortly after the marijuana initiative was approved to appear on the ballot that he saw no evidence of significant boost to business boost if medicinal marijuana were to be legalized.
“It’s all conjecture,” Davis said in a February Times-Union article. “In my opinion, it’s going to be very low [ economic impact].”
While chambers of commerce and mainstream business advocates try to discredit legalizing marijuana and its economic impact, supporters of decriminalizing medicinal pot say the financial benefits are huge.
Pro-marijuana industry and development groups say there’s little doubt legal marijuana, even for medicinal use, can provide a huge impact economically that business leaders in groups like chambers of commerce should embrace.
The National Cannabis Industry Association cites a recent study by Arcview Market Research that concluded the national market for legalized medicinal and adult-use pot generated about $1.44 billion in industry value in 2013. The projected market for 2014 is $2.34 billion.
California, where medicinal marijuana was legalized 17 years ago, was the biggest weed industry value-generating state with a $980 million market in 2013, according to the study.
Public opinion polls in Florida show the general populace supports legalizing marijuana for medicinal use as much as 80 to 90 percent. A poll of registered voters a few weeks ago indicated the measure on the ballot has nearly a 70 percent favorable rating.
Marijuana industry advocates have already started setting up the infrastructure to begin the pot businesses as soon as what they believe will be approval of the measure.
In September in Jacksonville, there were extensive seminars held to explain how to build a business around the medical marijuana industry. There have been several First Coast entrepreneurs who have committed to the industry.
Donnell Vigil, for instance, is the CEO of Quasar Aerospace Industries Inc. based at Herlong Recreational Airport in western Duval County. She recently completed the acquisition of a marijuana cultivation company. She spent $250,000 acquiring Hydro-Grow of Colorado Springs, Colo., where recreational marijuana use is legal in that state and she plans to set up shop here on the First Coast after, she admits presumptively, the amendment is passed.
Richard J. Cebula, finance and economics professor at Jacksonville University, in a September Times-Union article said there’s simply no denying legal medicinal marijuana will have an economic impact on Florida.
“I believe there is no question there will be a cottage industry surrounding this phenomena. I have no doubt it will be diverse. I’m not certain how large it will be,” Cebula said.
Still, Burr and JAX Chamber insist that voter approval of legalizing medicinal marijuana is unnecessary because the Florida Legislature was already moving toward those efforts. State lawmakers have already approved the “Charlotte’s Web” legislation that legalized the use of low-grade marijuana to treat some health conditions such as cancer and epilepsy.
“The JAX Chamber considers Amendment 2 to be unnecessary and does not support the precedent of amending Florida’s Constitution for changes that can be made legislatively,” Burr said.
Drew Dixon: (904) 359-4098
JAX Chamber board officially opposes legalizing medical marijuana
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