Supreme Court to consider pot initiative

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments Dec. 8 about a proposed 2016 ballot measure led by Orlando attorney John Morgan that would allow many patients throughout the state to legally use medical marijuana. Justices must sign off on ballot language before proposed constitutional amendments can go before voters. The political committee People United for Medical Marijuana, led by Morgan, is spearheading the effort to get the marijuana initiative on the November ballot. A similar ballot proposal narrowly failed in 2014. If the Supreme Court approves the proposed wording, People United for Medical Marijuana would have to submit a total of 683,149 valid petition signatures to get on the ballot. As of Wednesday, it had submitted 286,274, records show.

News Service of Florida

Unloaded gun found at Edgewater High

Police responded to Edgewater High School on Wednesday after administrators discovered a student had an unloaded hand gun on campus. A teacher at the Orlando campus alerted administrators the student might have drugs, according to a recorded message from Principal Howard Hepburn that went out to parents. After searching the student, school staff discovered the gun. “Law enforcement was immediately contacted and took control of the situation,” Hepburn said in the message. “At no time was the weapon used in a threatening manner. There was no disruption to the school day and everyone was safe and secure.” An Orlando Police Department spokesperson couldn’t be reached for additional details.

Annie Martin

Homeless man killed in Leesburg crash

A homeless man was killed by a vehicle while trying to dart across U.S. Highway 27 in Leesburg Tuesday, police said. Leslie Ollie Massengill, 45, and a friend were crossing the street when a 2003 Dodge Ram pickup truck hit him, records show. The driver of the truck, Gary Moore Jr., 44, of Maryland, told investigators he was driving and all of a sudden the man appeared in front of his truck. He tried to swerve out of the way but ended up hitting Massengill, police said. Massengill was pronounced dead at the scene. Charges are pending but it appears as if the pedestrian was at fault, Lt. Joe Iozzi said. A second vehicle was damaged from debris in the wreck. No one else was injured in the crash.

Christal Hayes

Bill adds rules for abortion doctors

Calling it the “Women’s Health Protection Act,” a Senate Republican on Wednesday filed a bill that would increase hospitalrelated requirements for doctors who perform abortions. The bill filed by Sen. Kelli Stargel, RLakeland, would require that abortion-clinic medical directors and doctors have admitting privileges at Florida hospitals or that they have patient-transfer agreements with hospitals within a 30-minute drive. That is morestringent than current law, which applies to clinic medical directors.

News Service of Florida