Pubdate: Sun, 26 Oct 2014
Source: Tallahassee Democrat (FL)
Copyright: 2014 Tallahassee Democrat
Contact: http://static.tallahassee.com/contactus-form/
Website: http://www.tallahassee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/444
Author: Jim Rogers

VOTE AS IF MARIJUANA WOULD BE LEGALIZED

Re: "A step toward pot legalization? Hooray" (Gerald Ensley, Oct. 22).

Gerald Ensley argues that marijuana should be legalized because it is
relatively harmless and people like to use it. He then argues that the
proposed Amendment 2 legalizing medical marijuana should be approved
because "medial marijuana is the gateway to legalized marijuana." In
support, he cites Colorado and Washington as states where the two-step
process of fully legalizing marijuana was successfully used.

He then inconsistently argues that opponents of the amendment who
believe, as Ensley does, that it is the first step toward full
legalization of marijuana are guilty of using a "scare tactic." Ensley
apparently does not realize that the opponents of the amendment agree
with him that the amendment is an initial step to full legalization of
marijuana. Unwittingly, perhaps, Ensley has found that common ground
so rarely found in political disputes.

Accordingly, in support of common ground, I agree with Ensley that
voters should vote yes or no on Amendment 2 based on whether they do
or do not want marijuana to be fully legalized in the state of Florida
by a constitutional amendment, entirely removing the question from any
future consideration by the elected branches of government.

Jim Rogers 
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MAP posted-by: Richard