Pubdate: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 Source: Tallahassee Democrat (FL) Copyright: 2014 Tallahassee Democrat Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/hdEs6Z0o Website: http://www.tallahassee.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/444 Author: Diana Gilbert CONSIDER MARIJUANA'S DANGERS In November, voters will consider an amendment to our Florida Constitution about legalizing medical marijuana. An amendment is very serious and shouldn't be taken lightly. The California Narcotics Officers Association says: "Marijuana is an unstable mixture of over 400 chemicals, including toxic psychoactive chemicals which are largely unstudied and appear in uncontrolled strengths." There's strong evidence that smoked marijuana is harmful. The British Lung Foundation found links between smoking marijuana and tuberculosis, acute bronchitis and lung cancer. The BLF warned that smoking three or four marijuana joints a day is as bad for our lungs as 20 tobacco cigarettes. Mental illness has been associated with chronic marijuana use, such as psychosis, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and suicidal thoughts. Marijuana affects the brain, causing difficulty with thinking and problem-solving, distorted perception and disrupted learning and memory. A president of the California Police Chief's Association wrote, "Based on almost 12 years of medical marijuana in California, it's our observation that it has been destructive to lives and communities." He said it's "bad public policy and will cause crime and public safety problems." The Florida Medical Association and law enforcement organizations strongly oppose Amendment 2. Vote no on Amendment 2. DIANA GILBERT Niceville --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom