Dereck L. Kinner
Florida Times Union staff writer
Appeared in Florida Times Union Dec 3, 1998
A Group advocating the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes is suing the Jacksonville
And Supervisor of elections Tommie Bell said yesterday the group is right ----
Gary Edinger, a lawyer for Floridians for Medical Rights, said police officers
Members held a brief news conference yesterday outside the Jacksonville
Floridians for Medical Rights is a lobbying organization that works with the Florida
Group member Scott Bledsoe said he and a few volunteers were continually told
The Lawsuit said one church worker became irate and went to see pastor
Jacksonville Sheriff Office spokesman Harry Reagan said yesterday his
Bell said her office was not contacted. We had nothing to do with that.
Snell said he consulted with police officers before requesting that the group
Sheriff and Duval County supervisor of elections after some members were ordered
away from a polling place during last month's elections.
They shouldn't have been ordered away.
and elections officials violated members civil rights by not allowing them to
collect signature for a petition. They want a referendum for legalized
medicinal marijuana use put on a future statewide ballot.
Sheriff's Office shortly after the lawsuit was filed in US District Court.
They aren't seeking monetary damages but want better trained poll workers
and an end to sheriff's office policies that led Police to interrupt the
petition drive. The lawsuit raises a legal question concerning private
property rights when the property is being leased as a public polling site.
"This is a matter for our attorney's to figure out", said John Stafford
Bell's Chief Elections Assistant. But Stafford said he agrees with Bell,
"It's my personal opinion that when we rent Private property for use as a
polling place. They should let people petition", Stafford said.
Cannabis Action Network. The same group won an injunction against Jacksonville
Beach this summer forcing the city to allow hempfest at the Seawalk Pavilion.
According to the lawsuit filed yesterday. Members from the group set up a
table about 150 feet away from the polling place at Hendrick's Avenue
Baptist Church to collect signatures for their petition. All parties involved
agreed they were well outside the 50 foot area around polling place where
petitions are forbidden by law.
to leave by church members and poll workers. Each time they asked the church
members or Poll workers to call the supervisor of Elections because they had
a right to be there.
Jack A. Snell about the situation, within 30 minutes police Officer
Tom L Martin arrived. Martin told Bledsoe the pastor had asked him to leave.
Bledsoe asked Martin to call the supervisor of election. But, Martin said
the group had a choice. Leave or be arrested. The group left. No one
disputes that version of events. But, the two defendants named in the
lawsuit have differing opinions about the groups' rights.
department investigated the matter after getting a complaint from Bledsoe.
Officers determined Martin acted properly and adhered to departmental policy.
My understanding is that the officer did consult with the elections office.
Reagan said. He was told that when the elections office leases or make
arrangements to use a polling place they don't lease the entire property.
Once we pay our rental to them. The church that is a public area it is
legal for people to have petitions signed.
leave. However he added that he did not call police to his church.
"I was a little reluctant to ask them to leave", he said. "I wanted to be
assured that we can ask them to leave. The police came by and assured me
that they were on our property". Snell said, "The fact that he doesn't
necessarily agree with the issues the group was presenting had nothing to do
with him asking them to leave".