Pubdate: Mon, 06 Oct 2014
Source: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Copyright: 2014 Sun-Sentinel Company
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/mVLAxQfA
Website: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/159
Author: Pamela S. Goodman
Note: Pamela S. Goodman, a resident of Palm Beach Gardens, is 
appointed commissioner on the Blue Ribbon Panel that is writing the 
proposed legislation, which is part of Florida for Care.
Page: 12A

AMENDMENT 2 NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE

Like most Floridians, I believe that patients should be able to 
adhere to their doctor's recommendations without acting in violation 
of the law. I'm proud to support Amendment 2 this November. It's time 
for Florida to join the 23 other states that acknowledge the 
fundamental idea that medical decisions should not be made by 
politicians, but by doctors in consultation with their patients.

Nevertheless, the implementation of Florida's medical marijuana 
program ought to be done carefully and considerately. When I served 
as president and CEO of Limited Express and oversaw a company with 
$1.5 billion in revenue and over 850 retail stores nationwide, I 
gained valuable first-hand insight into the relationship between 
business and regulation. As a result of my business experience and my 
belief that all interests can benefit from smart policymaking, I 
enthusiastically accepted my invitation to join Florida for Care's 
Blue Ribbon Commission to help guide the implementation of Florida's 
medical marijuana program under Amendment 2.

On the Blue Ribbon Commission, I served alongside an incredibly 
diverse group of experts including law enforcement officials, 
doctors, scientists, policymakers, patient advocates, lawyers, and 
other business professionals. After months of detailed deliberations, 
the Commission has crafted a comprehensive proposal that will make 
all Floridians proud.

We set out to achieve three main goals: establishing easy and 
affordable patient access, crafting sound regulations to ensure 
safety and security, and promoting the type of free market enterprise 
that will ultimately bring better and more affordable medicine to 
those who truly need it. Undoubtedly, the Blue Ribbon Commission's 
proposal achieves all of these objectives.

We've recommended for business interests to be allowed to engage in 
healthy competition while giving localities the ability to determine 
the location of medical marijuana treatment centers within their 
communities - and the authority to decide if they want medical 
marijuana treatment centers at all. Further, the proposal gives 
dispensing organizations the freedom to make the medicine that would 
best benefit patients while requiring producers to comply with food 
grade standards and maintain sterile environments, allow the testing 
of every batch of each product, and use clear potency labeling and 
child-resistant packaging.

The proposal requires recurring educational courses for all 
physicians or caregivers who participate in the medical marijuana 
program. We've also ensured that patients who truly need this 
medicine will be the only ones to have access to it by reaffirming 
the strict patient qualifying standards already in the text of the 
amendment, submitting all caregivers to background checks, requiring 
follow-up examinations for patients and giving law enforcement 
officials access to patient and caregiver registries.

We've doubled-down on existing rules that promote physician 
responsibility and established that doctors who recommend medical 
marijuana negligently will face severe consequences. We've also taken 
extra steps to keep marijuana out of the hands of our kids.

I'll be casting my ballot in favor of Amendment 2. As compassionate 
citizens, I feel confident that a large majority of my fellow 
Floridians will do the same. Regardless of one's position on medical 
marijuana, we can all take comfort in knowing that Florida's 
compassionate care program will be implemented cautiously, safely and wisely.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom