Pubdate: Tue, 08 Apr 2014
Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL)
Copyright: 2014 Ronald Liss
Contact:  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/325
Note: Rarely prints out-of-state LTEs.
Author: Ronald Liss
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n313/a03.html

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

As Douglas MacKinnon wrote Sunday, ("Medical marijuana on the ballot
fraught with danger"), the majority of marijuana users in states where
it has been legalized are males between 18 to 34 years old with
questionable medical needs. The marijuana issue is a double-edged
sword. Seriously ill people are in need of the drug, but many more
recreational users will abuse the law if marijuana is legalized for
medical use.

The irony is that marijuana can easily be purchased illegally, and if
the referendum is voted down in November, the only losers will be
patients in need. Will there be human costs if marijuana is legalized?
Since today's pot is considered addictive and physically damaging,
undoubtedly there will be many more victims. So will the costs
outweigh the benefits?

The one thing that we can be sure of is that, as more and more baby
boomers retire to our state in the coming years, there will be an
increasing population of people suffering from debilitating diseases
who will be in dire need of the relief only marijuana can bring.

Ronald Liss

Maitland
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