Over in Florida, forward-thinking folks have been trying to get medical cannabis legalized for years. And they very nearly did exactly that. In fact, they clearly voted in favour of it just two years ago. In most states, a majority of 58% in favour of any given measure would see it implemented without a second though and considered a roaring success. In the case of Florida though, nothing of the sort. That’s because back in 2006, the rule book as to constitutional amendments was itself amended, meaning that unless any given majority vote hit 60% or more, it wouldn’t be considered a majority. As such, 58% wasn’t enough to give medical cannabis the green light, meaning it remains illegal.

Pretty depressing, on the whole.

Two years ago, Florida voters just barely missed a 60 percent threshold to legalize medical marijuana in the state. That won’t happen this November — at least not if a new poll on the measure from the University of North Florida is even close to accurate.

UNF’s survey, released this morning, finds that 77 percent of Floridians back Amendment 2, which would legalize medical pot statewide. Just 18 percent of voters said they were against the move, and 4 percent were still undecided.

Administrative law judge Elizabeth W. McArthur found the use of a rented jet helicopter and a mad dash to the Department of Health's headquarters are not necessarily rules violations.

The ruling came Monday in a challenge to the Department of Health awarding a marijuana license to Knox Nursery of Winter Garden.

“Maybe it was important to them,” she said, upholding a Department of Health motion to exclude incidents involving Knox’s delivery of a $5 million bond receipt.

Come Nov. 8, Florida could be the 26th state to legalize full-strength medical marijuana for patients with cancer, epilepsy and a host of other conditions.

That gives supporters and opponents of Amendment 2 just five weeks to persuade voters. And they've started in earnest, pumping millions of dollars from wealthy donors into TV ads, mailings and recruiting big-name endorsers.

Pro-medical marijuana group United for Care has logged $5.2 million since 2015, most of it from large donors, including a $1 million contribution last week from pot activist group New Approach.

Don't look now, but the November elections are just over five weeks away. In addition to choosing the 45th president of the United States, voters in nine states will decide the fate of marijuana, which has become a front-and-center issue this year.

The expansion of the marijuana industry is impressive in two respects. First, its growth rate is practically unmatched. According to cannabis research firm ArcView, legal marijuana sales could grow at a 30% annual clip between now and 2020, all on account of organic sales growth and legalization by more individual states.

There are several constitutional amendments on the November ballot. One of them, Amendment 2 — Use of Marijuana for Debilitating Medical Conditions — is a retread from the 2014 election.

Two years ago, the slightly different version of the amendment received 58 percent of the vote, falling just short of the 60 percent needed to pass. It appeared on the ballot as Amendment 2 then, too.

What happened?

As Florida voters weigh their decision to create a state-regulated medical marijuana industry, an obvious question emerges: Where do doctors stand on pot?

The answer is complicated. The medical establishment dismisses weed as scientifically untested, but some individual doctors are breaking ranks to back Amendment 2, the ballot question that will be decided Nov. 8.

There are several constitutional amendments on the November ballot. One of them, Amendment 2 — Use of Marijuana for Debilitating Medical Conditions — is a retread from the 2014 election.

Two years ago, the slightly different version of the amendment received 58 percent of the vote, falling just short of the 60 percent needed to pass. It appeared on the ballot as Amendment 2 then, too.

What happened?

Voters on Nov. 8 will decide ballot measures in nine states that would expand legal access to marijuana. Here's a rundown:

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RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA

In five states, the ballot measures propose to legalize recreational marijuana use for anyone 21 and over.

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Full page of mailer takes aim at attorney John Morgan.

The campaign to defeat Amendment 2, the medical marijuana question on November’s ballot, is heating up.

The “No on 2” campaign is telling the same story it told two years ago, when the amendment lost by a bare margin.

And now, thousands of slick brochures are showing up in mailboxes across Florida, telling horror stories about medical marijuana. Last time, the initiative lost by fewer than three points.