Pubdate: Sat, 14 Jun 2014
Source: Tampa Bay Times (FL)
Copyright: 2014 St. Petersburg Times
Contact: http://www.sptimes.com/letters/
Website: http://www.tampabay.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/419
Note: Named the St. Petersburg Times from 1884-2011.
Author: Chuck Drago
Page: A13
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n507/a07.html

QUESTIONABLE ARGUMENTS

Re: Pot foes get billionaire ally - June11

The Florida Sheriffs Association's explicit opposition to Amendment 
2, the medical marijuana amendment, is troubling. First, there is the 
question of whether it is appropriate for law enforcement to heavily 
weigh in on a decision that voters will be asked to make and that 
will primarily affect Florida physicians and their patients.

Second, it appears the association's objections are being built on a 
platform of questionable allegations. It says virtually everyone will 
be able to have access to medical marijuana, yet the Florida Supreme 
Court has already ruled that the language of the amendment is clear: 
Medical cannabis will only be available to patients with debilitating 
diseases and conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDS and multiple 
sclerosis, among others.

The association presents scenarios that defy common sense, including 
kids having access to medical marijuana without their parents' 
consent and felons qualifying as caregivers. I don't have a crystal 
ball, but I am fully confident that the Florida Department of Health, 
whose task it would be to issue regulations if Amendment 2 were to 
pass, is fully capable of sensibly addressing these concerns.

Aggressive opposition to Amendment 2 based on the remote possibility 
of extremely unlikely scenarios could threaten the Florida Sheriffs 
Association's ability to act as a constructive partner in the process 
of building a safe and effective medical cannabis program if Florida 
voters were to approve this amendment.

As a former Fort Lauderdale police officer and former police chief of 
the city of Oviedo, I believe this is a decision that Florida voters 
should make based on the needs of patients and doctors, not the 
opinions of those whose most important concern should be preserving 
their ability to ensure order and public safety in our communities 
regardless of how Floridians vote in the fall.

Chuck Drago, Oviedo
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom