Welcome to the Florida Cannabis Action Network Archives The Florida Cannabis Action Network was founded in 1997 by Kevin Aplin and Scott Bledsoe and survives today as a vibrant organization. From 1997 until 2003 Jug-or-not.com hosted the Florida CAN website. During this time, Florida CAN had many victories in the war on Cannabis. Florida CAN had many important programs, including a legal support network, the Truth Police, Just Say Know, Planting Seeds, and Reaping the Harvest. Florida CAN won several key first amendment rulings from US Federal Courts creating caselaw in three states. In all Florida Cannabis Action Network affected the lives of millions during this period. On this website you will find many of the important things accomplished by Florida Cannabis Action Network. There are videos of protesters being arrested, information about your rights in a traffic stop, 4th amendment, 1st amendment, and Freedom of Information Act and how to utilize it.
11th Circuit Court of Appeals - In 1995 Cannabis Action Network sued the city of Gainesville in Federal Court regarding unconstitutional ordinances which Gainesville used to target CAN. The case wound up in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2000, CAN received a victory. The city appealed to the Supreme Court and the case was remanded in light of the Thomas vs Chicago Park District Ruling. Here is the Ruling from the 11th Circuit in CAN v City of Gainesville All Tell Stadium Arrest - Dec. 2, 1999. Florida CAN Vice President Scott Bledsoe was assaulted and arrested by Lt. J.L. Burt of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, while collecting petitions and registering citizens to vote before the Monday Night Football Game vs the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bledsoe was charged with Tresspassing (on public property), Resisting without violence, and Possession of Marijuana. All charges were dropped in November 2000. An mp3 audio recording of the incident is located here. Bledsoe v Nathaniel Glover, Sheriff and Tommie Bell, Supervisor of Elections Duval Co, FL - In November of 1998 Activists from Florida CAN attended several voting polls in the Jacksonville, FL area in order to collect petitions for the medical marijuana ballot initiative. At one location, the Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church the activists were accosted and faced the threat of violence at the hands of a pastor at the church. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office removed the activists under the threat of arrest. The activists filed suit in US District Court in Jacksonville seeking a court declaration showing that the actions of the Sheriff and Supervisor of Elections were unconstitutional and illegal. The filed complaint is here. 12-3-1998 An article from the Florida Times Union is here. There was a Settlement in the case when the Sheriff and Supervisor of Elections agreed to retrain its staff regarding petitioners at the polls. The Sheriff released a memorandum 99-3 that supposedly protected demonstrators, petitioners and protesters. After a further incident another lawsuit was filed which resulted in FLCAN being allowed to videotape training sessions for the police regarding free speech. Bush Campaign Rally - October 24th, 2000. Florida Can Vice President, Scott Bledsoe was arrested outside of a GW Bush for President Campaign rally in Jacksonville, FL., While attempting to use a PA system to address rally attendees about GW Bush policy towards drug users and addicts, Secret Service agents advised Mr Bledsoe that he was in a secured area and would have to leave. Although Bledsoe claims he was on a public property entirely separate from that of the rally, he was still ordered to leave. He was charged with opposing police. All charges were dropped in November 2000. FLCAN vs City of Jacksonville - In 2000, Florida CAN filed suit against the city of Jacksonville, FL seeking a permanent injunction dismantling portions of the special events policy and ordinances. The City of Jacksonville allowed the 2000 event and eventually lost the case allowing the 2001 hempfest at Hemming Plaza in front of City Hall. Here is a link to the Times Union Article about the lawsuit. Here is the ruling from the lawsuit in which FLCAN prevailed. Green Prisoners - In 2000 and 2001 Florida CAN produced a series of TV Shows on POT-TV called Green Prisoners. Florida CAN produced 4 shows. One video shows a police riot at the 2000 Tampa Hempfest in Lowry Park along with a PBS documentary on Medical Marijuana. The second shows Scott Bledsoe being arrested for protesting at the 2000 GW Bush Rally in Jacksonville, FL. The third video shows a controversial drug treatment center called SAFE which uses brutal abusive tactics to scare kids into quitting drugs. The fourth video is of a traffic stop in which Scott Bledsoe refuses a search and is allowed to leave. See the Green Prisoners shows here. Visit Pot TV here. Florida Medical Marijuana Ballot Intiative - A Statewide petition drive to place a medical marijuana question on the Florida State Ballot. The intiative was launched on Sept. 3, 1997 by the political action committee Floridians for Medical Rights, and failed to collect the estimated 435,000 signatures required. The intiative faced immediate and sometimes oppressive criticism of many of the state's Sheriffs and the Florida Drug Czar James McDonough (who was installed as the Secretary at the Florida Dept of Corrections in 2003). Florida CAN collected tens of thousands of signatures for this intiative. Members of Florida CAN sued the Sheriff and Supervisor of Elections of the City of Jacksonville twice when they were removed from polling locations illegally violating the rights of petitioners. The first lawsuit filed is here. Article about the origin of the campaign 9-4-97. South Florida Sun Sentinal opposing editorial 12-17-97 Article Announcing State Opposition to Proposal 1-12-98 St Augustine newspaper article opposing intiative 2-8-1998. Florida Statewide Hempfest aka Gainesville Hempfest - Video of Kevin Aplin at 1994 Gainesville Hempfest Hemp For Fuel Protest - Sept 22, 1999. Florida Can President Kevin Aplin along with several other protestors shut down all gas sales during rush hour in Melbourne, Florida. The message was Hemp for Fuel not Gas. One of the signs said "hemp for fuel or go to Shell" and the s was crossed out. The article from The Florida Times 9-23-1999. Hemp Museum - Sept. 2001 Florida Cannabis Action Network opened an office and Hemp Museum in downtown Melbourne. The Museum featureed educational materials about hemp and had a library upstairs from the museum to help people with legal research, not just about marijuana, but most legal issues. The opening co-incided with the "Our Voice Street Festival" on New Haven Avenue downtown. Article from Florida today Sept 8, 2001 . Article from Florida Today Aug 16, 2001.. City Council Meeting Minutes 8-14-2001. Just Say Know - Around 2002 or 2003, FLCAN started the Just Say Know campaign. The program's purpose was to educate the public in regards to Encounters with Law Enforcement, How to utilize your attorney in a criminal proceeding, and a citizen's rights vs. Children and Families Services. Here is a Document with most of the Just Say Know information. Memorandum 99-3 March23, 1999 - Internal Sheriff's directive issued by Nathenial Glover, Jacksonville Sheriff. SUBJECT: POLITICAL ACTIVITY AND VOTING DAY ENCOUNTERS WITH POLLSTERS OR PETITIONERS. This memo was a result of a settlement of Bledsoe and Floridians for Medical Rights vs. Glover I. The memorandum ensured in writing the civil freedoms for petitioners and demonstrators in Jacksonville, FL. Although in practice it failed to protect from arrest. The memo can be seen here. Survey of the Marijuana Situation - by the Miami Field Division of the DEA - in 1998 Florida CAN launched a Freedom of Information request when they learned that a copy of the Medical Marijuana Ballot Intiative appeared in the book. After denial and appeal, Florida CAN received the booklet which says "for law enforcement personnel only". Enjoy the booklet here. Truth Police - Truth police was developed by FL CAN Jacksonville Director Scott Bledsoe in 1999 to force political leaders to make public statements on drug policy reform. The goal was to attend public meetings, forums, and open houses and ask questions about that person's stance on Medical Marijuana hopefully in front of press members. In one example The truth police attended a US Congressional Subcommittee hearing about the drug war in Orlando. In another, the truth police waited in lure with a bullhorn in Jacksonville for Governor Jeb Bush at Capital for a Day. |
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