Pubdate: Sun, 02 Nov 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: Kim Russell

TALK TO FAMILY ABOUT MARIJUANA

After watching my grandmother suffer many years with glaucoma, I 
decided to work toward making medical marijuana legal.

At age 76, Doris Smith was climbing mountains and riding roller 
coasters. In her 90s, she was wishing to die, because pharmaceuticals 
did not work to relieve her pain. Grandma was delighted to hear I 
started working for medical marijuana, as she was the woman who 
taught me to stand up for what I believe. She died six months later, 
and my determination became even stronger.

Facts about medical marijuana: It can be eaten, without mind altering 
effects, and it has a zero death rate.

Facts about Amendment 2:

It requires elected officials to regulate the industry, it covers 
only debilitating conditions, and it trusts doctors to properly diagnose.

Florida's one-subject rule determines that we could only allow 
patients the right to access medical marijuana, but not address the 
fine details of regulation.

In the event the current legislators remain in Tallahassee, we may 
have an industry based on the Charlotte's Web model, which will be 
helpful for a very small number of wealthy patients.

Talk to family, friends and neighbors to discover how many people 
could be helped by medical marijuana. Sooner or later, everyone will 
know someone who could benefit.

KIM RUSSELL

Vice chair, People United for Medical Marijuana

Orlando
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom