Pubdate: Sun, 01 Dec 2013
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2013 The Tribune Co.
Contact: http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-letters/
Website: http://www.tampatrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446
Author: Calvina Fay

POT NOT MEDICINE

In reference to "Lighting Up -- the pros and cons of the medical pot 
debate" (Views, Nov. 24), I find it absurd that John Morgan has the 
gall to claim that his initiative is not about getting high but 
rather about helping the "truly sick." What he calls "medical 
marijuana" is not special marijuana. It is nothing more than street 
pot that contains contaminants such as pesticides, fertilizers and 
fungi -- hardly a substance that is safe for the truly sick.

Marijuana is addictive and has been linked to harms such as cancer, 
schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, and respiratory diseases. 
It has also been shown to suppress the immune system, something that 
is not needed by the truly sick.

Morgan's proposed amendment is not the right thing for Florida and 
should be rejected. The truly sick deserve real medicine, not to be 
used as pawns by people such as Morgan to further an agenda of making 
an intoxicating, harmful weed more accessible and socially acceptable.

CALVINA FAY, ST. PETERSBURG

The writer is executive director of the Drug Free America Foundation Inc.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom