Pubdate: Sat, 23 Aug 2014
Source: Tampa Bay Times (FL)
Copyright: 2014 Richard C. Horowitz
Contact: http://www.sptimes.com/letters/
Website: http://www.tampabay.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/419
Note: Named the St. Petersburg Times from 1884-2011.
Author: Richard C. Horowitz

Re: Sheriff: Amendment 2 has bad side effects, Aug. 21

PRISON INDUSTRY INFLUENCE

I have been trying to understand why the Florida Sheriff's Association
has come out against the medical marijuana amendment, which is
supported by most of the public.

Objectively, the data are clear. Opiate medications are far more
dangerous than marijuana. Therefore, if medical marijuana can
substantially reduce dependency on opiates, legalizing it is a no-brainer.

The sheriffs have brains. Therefore their opposition must not be based
on the facts. What else can be behind their opposition? I think what
they really fear is that passage of the amendment will inevitably lead
to a Colorado-type outcome of legalizing recreational marijuana use.

Can you imagine a scenario where people are no longer arrested and
jailed for possession or sale of small amounts of marijuana? We might
need fewer sheriff's deputies, fewer correctional officers and fewer
bailiffs. Despite enormous savings to taxpayers and improvement in how
the public perceives law enforcement, there might be an increase in
unemployment for law enforcement personnel.

If you believe my hypothesis is farfetched, revisit what happened in
California after the "three strikes and you're out" referendum passed.
Prison populations escalated sharply, along with skyrocketing
expenditures for prison guards, parole officers and court personnel.
Guess who was by far the leading hinder of the three strikes
initiative? The correctional officers union. More prisoners equals
more guards and more overtime pay.

Richard C. Horowitz, Palm Harbor 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D