Pubdate: Wed, 11 May 2005
Source: Florida Times-Union (FL)
Copyright: 2005 The Florida Times-Union
Contact: http://www.jacksonville.com/aboutus/letters_to_editor.shtml
Website: http://www.times-union.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/155
Author: Stephen Heath

DEA MAKES DECISIONS

The latest news in the high-profile case of Rush Limbaugh indicates we
are one step closer to having all of our personal medical decisions
made by police officers instead of by doctors.

The Drug Enforcement Administration does not include medical
professionals. Yet, it decides when an American seeking legitimate
pain relief has enough medication. And, its decisions pave the way for
state and local law enforcement nationwide.

Limbaugh's national prominence makes him easy fodder for those seeking
his conviction and imprisonment on "doctor-shopping" charges. But
such vengeful thinking does nothing to help the freedom of all
Americans who seek relief from Big Brother gravely intoning what
otherwise law-abiding adults are free to put into their own bodies at
their own expense.

If the non-medical DEA staffers and other state law enforcement
officers can tell Limbaugh his legal limits on pain relief, they can
tell us all.

Those of us who don't medicate as instructed by these cops will face
arrest, prosecution and mandatory prison time.

STEPHEN HEATH

Public relations director

Drug Policy Forum of Florida

Clearwater
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MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFLorida)