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Medical Pot Backers Carrying Less Cash

The group supporting Florida’s medical marijuana Amendment 2 has just $600,000 in its coffers despite having raised almost $6 million, the South Florida Sun Sentinelreports.

The pro-medical marijuana group, United for Care, spent most of its money on a petition drive to get the issue on Florida’s November ballot. Officials say they will use the money for ads, but are not concerned as they already have the support of most Floridians, the Sun Sentinel reports.

Campaign finance records show that its opposition, Drug Free Florida, still has in the bank $2.8 million of the $3.2 million it has raised so far, the Sun Sentinel reports.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Times reports that some Floridians with debilitating illnesses aren’t waiting for November to use the drug. Several shared their belief that smoking marijuana or eating pot brownies alleviates pain and helps with their appetites, the Times reports.

The Timesalso reported that the risks associated with the medical use of marijuana keeps the issue from being clear cut. The respected Institute of Medicine said pot is a powerful drug with potential harmful side effects – just like any other medicine, the Times reports.

Originally founded in December 2006 as an independent grassroots publication dedicated to coverage of health issues in Florida, Health News Florida was acquired by WUSF Public Media in September 2012.