Pubdate: Tue, 19 Nov 2013
Source: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Copyright: 2013 Sun-Sentinel Company
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/mVLAxQfA
Website: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/159
Author: Grady Judd
Note: Grady Judd is Sheriff of Polk County and the current president
of the Florida Sheriffs Association.
Page: 12A

MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS A SHAM

If you thought the medical marijuana initiative was intended to truly
help those debilitated by serious diseases, think again. Authors of
the amendment have included a truck-sized loophole in the definition
of debilitating diseases, which changes the word disease into
"condition." And what constitutes a valid "condition?" Any condition
where the "use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health
risks" of someone who claimed to be sick.

The "medical marijuana" initiative is a sham and straight out of the
pot legalization play book from other states. Yet I believe Floridians
are smarter than these pot promoting hucksters think.

Major medical organizations-including the American Medical
Association, American Cancer Society and American Academy of
Ophthalmology-have all agreed that marijuana has not been proven as a
safe or effective form of medicine. The Drug Enforcement Agency
classification lists marijuana as a highly addictive drug bearing no
proven medical value-declaring marijuana is a harmful drug.

Allowing medical marijuana will generate a cycle of problems. Teens
will have marijuana readily available to them creating the potential
of addiction; while industrial accidents could create an increase in
workers' compensation cases. Traffic crashes from drivers high on
marijuana will certainly increase. Floridians could find property
values decrease in areas where pot shops and production occur.

Long term continued use is associated with respiratory illness and
cognitive impairment and increased crime rates since passing the
legislation in states that have passed medical marijuana laws.

Lawmakers and law enforcement have worked tirelessly to get Florida's
crime rate to its current 42- year low. Let's not roll back that
progress by legalizing a drug with no accepted medical use and a high
potential for abuse. Join with your Florida Sheriffs and other law
enforcement agencies - those who have seen first-hand the tragedies
associated with marijuana abuse, as we fight this initiative.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt