Medical marijuana backers top $100K in January

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Now assured of being on the November ballot, a group supporting the legalization of medical marijuana raised $107,528 last month while spending $136,101, according to a newly filed finance report. The group "People United for Medical Marijuana" slowed its financial activity in January, as it became apparent the proposed constitutional amendment would have enough petition signatures to get on the ballot. The group, also known as "United for Care," had raised an overall total of $3.44 million since January 2015. The group also spearheaded a 2014 ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana, but voters narrowly rejected the proposal. Orlando attorney John Morgan is chairman of the group and also has provided much of the funding through his law firm. The Morgan Firm PA has contributed about $2.74 million since January 2015, according to a state elections database. The group met a Feb. 1 deadline for submitting 683,149 valid petition signatures to the state to get on this fall's ballot.