Pubdate: Thu, 21 Jun 2018
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2018 The Tribune Co.
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Website: http://tbo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446

FLORIDA'S NEWEST GOVERNOR CANDIDATE ON GANJA: ARE THE KIDS ALRIGHT?

Jeff Greene, the Palm Beach billionaire who this week joined a crowded
slate of Democrats seeking to replace Gov. Rick Scott, shared his
thoughts about marijuana with Truth or Dara during a lengthy interview
that included some chit-chat about Willie Nelson and air pods.

(Spoiler alert: He's a fan of both the musician and the technology).

On medical marijuana, Greene's got the same take as his competitors,
who've all come out in support of allowing patients to smoke their
treatment.

But the father of three young boys is on the fence about flat-out
legalization of recreational pot. Greene says he wants more data about
what's happened in other states that have legalized marijuana before
he decides.

Saying he "always likes to learn from other people," Greene wants to
look at states such as Colorado, where recreational has been legal for
more than a minute.

Greene's biggest worry is his three young sons, who are now ages four,
six and eight.

"They grow up so quickly. When I think of recreational marijuana being
legal, I just imagine my son in four or five years," said Greene.

Perhaps his 13-year-old son is visiting a friend and comes across "a
pack of marijuana cigarettes" left around the house by a relative or
friend, Greene posited.

"Is he going to say, hey, let's try this," Greene wondered.

"So the biggest worry I have is, again, as a father with young
children, and someone whose candidacy is largely based on kids and
getting kids great educations and having equality of opportunity for
all Floridians, and as someone who's focused on kids.

My view would be, let's look at the states that have legalized
recreational marijuana and let's understand if there's been an
increase in consumption among young people. If there has, I have to
say I definitely want to decriminalize it but I would not legalize it
so fast," he said.

But if the kids are OK, Greene said the state should go for it.

"If there has been no uptick in use whatsoever among young people, I'd
say absolutely legalize it, regulate it. That way people who are using
it know what they're getting. Tax it, get some revenue, use the
revenue from that to attack the real drug problem, which is the opioid
crisis, which is epidemic in our state, in our country," he said.
"It's something I want to look at very intelligently, just like in
education. I look at the states that have done a great job, like
Massachusetts, New Jersey, and think, what can we learn from them here
in Florida to make our education top five in the country?"

When Truth or Dara asked Greene where he stands on the marijuana issue
(both smokable and recreational) he prefaced his response with: "This
is my position. It didn't come from any poll or research. It's just
how I feel."

Greene, 63, said that medical marijuana has "proven to be an enormous
help" to sick people.

"These are people who have cancer, who are really struggling. If it
helps relieve their pain, how can we possible not let them get it, in
any way they want to ingest it," he said.

People have been smoking marijuana "for generations now," Greene said,
adding that he doesn't believe that allowing patients to smoke pot
will result in more pot being available for people to use
recreationally.

Smoke is an issue, of course, because of a legal tangle over a state
law prohibiting smokable medical marijuana. Judge Karen Gievers ruled
that the ban runs afoul of the constitutional amendment that broadly
legalized medical marijuana in Florida, but Gov. Rick Scott's
administration is appealing the decision.

"On medical, I say make it available. If they want to smoke it, if
they want to swallow it, whatever they want to do, but, if it helps
them, please Rick Scott, please Republicans, stop hurting these
people. These are people who are very sick often, and it's just
horrible that they're restricting their ability to get pain relief,"
he said.
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