Pubdate: Thu, 30 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 D. Logie MEDICAL POT IS LEGAL NOW A large personal injury law firm is pushing to legalize non-prescription marijuana under the guise of "medical marijuana." But genuine "Charlotte's Web" medical marijuana is now legal. The real need has been met. Marijuana's THC is stored and gradually released from human tissue for six weeks after initially being inhaled, causing laziness and an intermittent haze that interferes with coordination, reasoning and short-term memory. That in turn interferes with learning. Police know the damage of marijuana far too well. Legalizing it would sink morale and add to law enforcement burdens. Widespread marijuana usage beyond the rare cases of genuine medical necessity is a disaster. Highways are hazardous enough now. There is no reason to add the danger of more stoned drivers. The Democratic candidate for governor was recently a member of the very same law firm that is now pushing Amendment 2. He now favors marijuana legalization. The marijuana lobby hopes to seize at one stroke the governorship and the Florida Constitution in apparent disregard for the terrible damage more widespread marijuana usage would cause. Both prongs of this well-funded effort should be rejected. Vote No on Amendment 2 and for Rick Scott, who supported "Charlotte's Web" but opposes Amendment 2. Thomas D. Logie North Port - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom