Pubdate: Fri, 03 Oct 2014
Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2014 Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Contact: http://www.heraldtribune.com/sendletter
Website: http://www.heraldtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/398
Author: Thomas E. Danson Jr.

FOUR QUESTIONS ON 'POT'

It was my pleasure to be one of many persons to attend the 
Herald-Tribune's Hot Topics forum about Florida's proposed 
constitutional Amendment 2 on Wednesday.

The issue is whether or not the Florida should allow "physicians" to 
recommend the use of marijuana (or "pot") for treatment of certain 
illnesses, some of which are not clearly identified. If adopted, 
Florida will join many other states that allow some degree of sales of pot.

The 90 minutes of the program went very quickly, and left only enough 
time for one specific question from the very interested audience. 
Perhaps Michael Pollick, the very experienced staff person assigned 
to this project, will answer many questions between now and Election 
Day. With that hope, I include four questions:

1. The use of marijuana is a federal offense, so how do we handle 
this contradiction?

2. Have any recognized medical or pharmaceutical entities issued 
opinions on the true value, or addiction problems?

3. Has any group that has endorsed the amendment considered the 
impact of this being a constitutional issue in lieu of statutory 
consideration by the Legislature?

4. Am I the only person who will remind the proponents that the 
Legislature did write a law in the 2014 session allowing use of a 
marijuana medication?

I would be remiss if I did not extend my thanks to the participants 
and to the Herald-Tribune for sponsorship.

Thomas E. Danson Jr.

Sarasota
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