Pubdate: Wed, 05 Feb 2014 Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL) Copyright: 2014 Barbara McCloskey Contact: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/325 Note: Rarely prints out-of-state LTEs. Author: Barbara McCloskey Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n114/a03.html STATE SHOULD PLAN FOR MARIJUANA'S APPROVAL I sincerely hope Sentinel columnist Beth Kassab ("Florida doesn't need mess brought on by medical pot," Saturday) and her loved ones are never in debilitating pain. I hope her children never need the low-THC marijuana to relieve seizures. Why? Because I have debilitating pain, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Right now, my options for that pain include narcotic drugs and good old-fashioned booze. See any problems with those? There are potential problems with all vices - drunken driving, drug addiction, lung cancer, excessive gambling, etc. That's why Florida should get ahead of the game, and start planning regulations for medical marijuana before 60 percent of the voters approve it in the fall election. My condition is not listed in the ballot language; yet my doctor said he would prescribe it for me if marijuana were to be legalized. It's not a lot of fun being handicapped, and, as a child of the '60s, I know what marijuana could do for me. So Kassab should get off her soapbox condemning medical marijuana with her doomsday predictions, and get on the bandwagon for regulating and restricting its use. Those of us who have debilitating conditions would appreciate it. Barbara McCloskey Oviedo - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D