Caribbean Americans In Florida Also Voting For Medical Marijuana

Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton appealing for the Haitian vote in South Florida on Nov. 5, 2016 in a state where a vote for Use of Medical Marijuana for Debilitating Medical Conditions is also on the ballot.

By NAN Contributor

News Americas, MIAMI, FL, Tues. Nov. 8, 2016: It’s finally here – the much anticipated US Election Day of 2016. And while many Caribbean-born US voters in the state of Florida have already voted, those who have not have until 8 p.m. tonight to vote. But in this election, their ballot will not only have Presidential, congressional, and senatorial and state candidates, but also an amendment on Medical Marijuana.

Voters in the state must vote on Amendment 2 or ‘Use of Medical Marijuana for Debilitating Medical Conditions.’

The Caribbean American Politically Active Citizens group in South Florida, founded by Dr. Marcia Magnus, is recommending all Caribbean born US voters to vote YES on Amendment 2. The recommendation comes as some Caribbean countries, including Jamaica, consider medical marijuana legalization in their nations.

A YES vote on Amendment 2 in the state of Florida would:

Create “medical marijuana treatment centers” to cultivate and dispense drugs to certified patients or caregivers.

Create a constitutional right for people with specific “debilitating” conditions – such as cancer, epilepsy, AIDS, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis – to use marijuana as long as a physician has certified they have one of the specified conditions;

Permit caregivers to assist patients with marijuana treatments as long as that person possesses a caregiver identification card issued by the states. Caregivers must undergo a background check and are not allowed to use marijuana themselves.

Require parental consent before a minor could be certified by a physician to receive medical marijuana.

Require patients and caregivers to get a state-issued ID.

Retain state and federal prohibitions on recreational marijuana use, as well as prohibitions on operating vehicles and boats while under the influence.

Shield physicians from criminal or civil actions for issuing patient certifications.

The Caribbean American Politically Active Citizens group is also recommending Caribbean-Americans vote for the following candidates in the state of Florida:

PRESIDENT AND VP DEM: Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine

US SENATOR DEM: Patrick Murphy

US CONGRESS (D 20): DEM: Alcee Hastings

US CONGRESS (D 22): DEM: Ted Deutch

US CONGRESS (D 23): DEM: Debbie Wasserman Schultz

US CONGRESS (D 24): DEM: Frederica Wilson

US CONGRESS (D 25): DEM: Alina Valdes

US CONGRESS (D 26): DEM: Joe Garcia

US CONGRESS (D 27): REP: Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

FL State Senator (D34): DEM: Gary Farmer

State Rep (D93): DEM: Ken Keechel

State Rep (D103): DEM: Ivette Gonzalez Petkovich

State Rep (D104): DEM: Rick Stark

State Rep (D105): DEM: Patricio Moreno

CLERK OF THE COURT: Brenda Forman

SHERIFF:  Scott Israel

SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS: Brenda Snipes

Justice of the Supreme Court

Retain Justice Charles Canady YES
Retain Justice Jose Labarga YES
Retain Justice Ricky Poston YES

4th District Court of Appeal
Retain Judge Cory Ciklin YES
Retain Judge Dorian Damoorgian YES
Retain Judge Jonathan Gerber YES
Retain Judge Robert Gross YES
Retain Judge Stephen Levine YES
Retain Melanie May YES

Circuit Judge – 17th Judicial Circuit (Group 9): Lea Krauss

Circuit Judge – 17th Judicial Circuit (Group 15): Abby Rifkin

County Court Judge – Group 7: Ian Richards

County Court Judge – Group 14: Brad Peterson

County Commission District 3: Michael Udine

County Commission District 9: Dale V.C. Holness

Broward Soil & Water Conservation
District 3: Jelani Harvey
District 5: Fred Segal

South Broward Drainage District
Zone 6: Jack McCluskey

City of Lauderdale Lakes: Mayor Hazelle Rogers

City of Sunrise: Commissioner Mark Douglas.

The group has since 2000 developed Voters’ Guides to help Caribbean born US  voters elect the better candidates who may promote the interests of Caribbean-American people in South Florida, and provide guidance on constitutional ballot amendments.

BOTH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES LOBBYING FOR CARIBBEAN VOTES

In Florida in this election, both Presidential hopefuls – Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump – have  focused their attention on South Florida’s Caribbean-American population

On Wednesday, November 2nd, Hillary Clinton made a surprise visit to Lauderhill, where there is a large Caribbean American population. She also made a pitch on local Haitian radio stations and newspapers catering to the Haitian community and visited Little Haiti on Saturday, Nov. 5th, to make a last minute appeals.

In September Donald Trump became the first presidential candidate to ever visit Little Haiti as he tried to woo Haitian voters angry with the Clintons’ over their treatment of Haiti.

On Monday, the Melo Groove Steel Orchestra treated Clinton volunteers in Wynwood Midtown Miami to some Caribbean rhythms ahead of the election today.

OTHER STATES

Caribbean American voters will also go to the polls in other states with significant Caribbean populations today. Many are expected to vote traditionally Democrat in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut as well as in Pennsylvania and D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Many Caribbean Diaspora nationals were using social media last night to urge each other to vote in the traditional “each one tell one” push.

Go to iwillvote.com if you still need help to find your precinct.

NATIONALLY

Data shows that Caribbean nationals from four nations in the region are more likely to be U.S. citizens than others. Cubans lead with over 1.1 million naturalized citizens followed by the Dominican Republic with 996,000 and Jamaica with 711,000.  Haiti rounded out the grouping with 617,000.