Pubdate: Sun, 12 Oct 2014
Source: Daytona Beach News-Journal (FL)
Copyright: 2014 News-Journal Corporation
Contact:  http://www.news-journalonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/700
Note: gives priority to local writers

AMENDMENT 2: MEDICAL MARIJUANA BLURRING THE LINE ON POT

Supporters of Amendment 2 are seeking to have Florida join the 23
states and the District of Columbia that have legalized the medical
use of marijuana. For many, the issue is highly emotional. Either they
or their loved ones suffer severe pain from debilitating conditions,
and believe only cannabis can provide relief. They seek to amend the
state constitution in order to deliver the compassionate medical care
they charge the Legislature has failed to do.

Good intentions, however, are no substitute for well-crafted law, and
in Florida's case its medical marijuana initiative comes up short when
compared to most other states.

Amendment 2 would allow the medical use of marijuana for individuals
with "debilitating diseases," which the measure defines as "cancer,
glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),
acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), hepatitis C, amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease,
multiple sclerosis or other conditions for which a physician believes
that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential
health risks for a patient" (emphasis added).

That italicized part represents a giant, open-ended loophole that
could be exploited by unscrupluous, or even well-intentioned, doctors.
It could legalize the use of marijuana far beyond the scope implied by
the amendment's ballot summary.

That would make Florida an outlier among other states, the vast
majority of which have statutes or constitutional provisions that not
only define medical conditions eligible to be treated with marijuana,
but leave it up to their legislatures or health departments to expand
the lists, rather than individual doctors. Their approach maintains a
uniform standard of enforcement that would draw a clear line between
medical marijuana and the general usage of pot. Amendment 2 blurs that
line beyond recognition.

Given this state's longtime struggles with prescription drug "pill
mills" - almost all of the top 100 oxycodone-dispensing doctors in the
United States were in Florida - it would be unwise to create another
situation where supposedly controlled substances become
uncontrollable.

If the desire is to legalize marijuana, much the way Colorado and
Washington have done, then that explicit choice should be placed
before voters. Instead, supporters have presented a flimsy measure
that allows the camel's nose - if not more - under the tent and
invites abuse. Amendment 2 offers vagueness where clarity is needed.
There are better ways to provide compassion to those who genuinely
suffer. That's why we recommend a "no" vote.  
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MAP posted-by: Richard