Pubdate: Sun, 05 Oct 2014
Source: Bradenton Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2014 Bradenton Herald
Contact: http://www.bradenton.com/submit-letter/
Website: http://www.bradenton.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/58
Source: Bradenton Herald (FL)

MANATEE COUNTY SHERIFF BRAD STEUBE: MEDICAL MARIJUANA AMENDMENT TOO LENIENT

As your sheriff, I have a responsibility to you and our community to
share my concerns regarding Amendment 2, and the consequences
associated with the amendment should this pass.

It is so broadly written that I encourage each of you to read the
entire amendment, not just the wording on the ballot. Let me highlight
some of these concerns.

Amendment 2 is not just for those who suffer from "debilitating
medical conditions," defined as cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis
C, ALS, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis.

In fact, the amendment also states that medical marijuana can be
recommended for "other conditions for which a physician believes that
the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential
health risks for a patient."

In the states where medical marijuana has been approved, more than 90
percent is dispensed for "other conditions" such as anorexia,
migraines, muscle spasms, neck pain, back pain and menstrual cramps.

Even attorney Jon Mills, who wrote the language for Amendment 2 and
argued before the Florida Supreme Court, cited other conditions as
throat pain, trouble sleeping and problems eating.

It appears that less than 10 percent of medical marijuana is actually
going to those afflicted with debilitating illnesses.

Not very long ago, the State of Florida was known as the pill capital
of the world, where unscrupulous doctors prescribed pain killers at
random for just about anyone who walked in their door.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office dedicated an investigator to a
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) task force for several years.
Through the efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement,
Florida has very few pill mills remaining. Should this amendment pass,
the pill mills will virtually be replaced by the pot mills.

I am not aware of any medical organization that endorses the smoking
of marijuana. In fact, the Florida Medical Association, representing
20,000 members, is against the amendment.

There is a long list of groups that are in opposition, including the
American Medical Society, the National Cancer Institute, the National
Eye Association, the National Institute of Health, the American
Glaucoma Society and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Equally concerning in Amendment 2 is the provision for "personal
caregivers," who can agree to assist up to five patients with the use
of medical marijuana.

There is only one requirement to be a caregiver -- that you are 21
years old. There is no background check, no training, no certificate
and no requirement for medical experience.

A personal caregiver could be a drug dealer, charged with a felony,
convicted of the crime and just released from prison.

The list of potential criminal caregivers is endless. From those who
shoplift to those who commit robberies, burglaries and use and sell
drugs.

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) will be responsible for
enacting the regulations to ensure the availability and safe use of
medical marijuana. This includes procedures for the issuance of
identification cards for patients and caregivers. It also includes a
regulation that defines the amount of marijuana that could reasonably
be presumed to be an adequate supply.

At this very moment, the DOH is struggling with similar issues for the
strain of marijuana known as Charlotte's Web, which is the
non-euphoric liquid form of marijuana that controls seizures in
children. Charlotte's Web was passed by the Florida Legislature this
past session.

But we are not talking about passing a bill with Amendment 2. We are
talking about amending the Constitution of the State of Florida for
the smoking of marijuana.

The federal government does not recognize marijuana as a medicine.
Therefore, the physician will not write a prescription because it
cannot be purchased from a pharmacy. The doctor will write a
"recommendation" to the qualifying patient, who will then purchase the
marijuana from a "medical marijuana treatment center." These centers
will cultivate, process, transport, sell and distribute the marijuana
and related products.

The center will be a storefront, with no oversight from the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA). The DOH has estimated there will be 1,789
treatment centers in our state.

Based on population, the DOH is estimating that Manatee County will
have 31 treatment centers. That is more than several of the major
fast-food restaurants combined in our community.

I have addressed several of the concerns regarding this amendment.
There are certainly more, and that is why I am urging each of you to
read Amendment 2.

Then research this important issue at www.dontletfloridagotopot.com,
www.rethinkpot.org and www.voteno2.org. Google Colorado, Washington or
Arizona marijuana, and see for yourself the impact this is having on
those states in their emergency rooms, on their children, in schools
and with law enforcement.

Should this pass, it will change the face of Florida. I urge you to
vote no on 2. Don't let Florida go to pot.

Brad Steube, is the sheriff of Manatee County. He wrote this
exclusively for the Bradenton Herald.
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MAP posted-by: Matt