Pubdate: Mon, 24 Feb 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: Stephen Nohlgren

MEDICAL MARIJUANA TAKES CENTER STAGE AT UT DEBATE

TAMPA -- Marijuana is not medicine, Dr. Eric Voth noted Monday night. 
Doctors cannot control the dose or its possibly toxic side effects, 
the internist told an audience at the University of Tampa gathered 
for a debate over medical marijuana.

If it were called "Substance X," any doctor who told a patient to 
smoke it until they felt better would be committing malpractice, he said.

Orlando attorney John Morgan took up the counterpoint, arguing that 
marijuana is a natural substance that can ease suffering for hundreds 
of thousands of Floridians.

"I don't know why it works but it does," Morgan said. "I don't know 
why water works either, but I trust it."

Those contrary views represented early salvos as the campaign to 
legalize medical marijuana in Florida shifts from petition gathering 
to voter persuasion.

Morgan, who spent about $4 million to get a constitutional amendment 
on the November election ballot, has become the dominant public face 
of medical marijuana in Florida. Also arguing in favor of the 
proposed amendment was Allen St. Pierre, executive director of NORML, 
which has long advocated for full legalization of recreational pot.

Only the states of Colorado and Washington allow pot for nonmedical 
use. Polls show that Floridians strongly favor medical marijuana but 
oppose full legalization. Morgan usually tries to distance himself 
from the likes of NORML.

On Monday, beneath the glare of TV cameras, Morgan nearly recoiled 
when St. Pierre introduced himself.

"I'm on your side," St. Pierre said.

"You're on my side?" Morgan responded. "You are for legalization."

"Don't worry. We won't get into that much," said St. Pierre.

But Voth, chairman of the Institute on Global Drug Policy, a 
subsidiary of St. Petersburg's Drug Free America Foundation, was only 
too glad to raise the specter of legalization, referring frequently 
to the "drug lobby" and "special interests."

"Make no mistake," Voth told the crowd of about 300, "The end game is 
legalization."

The proposed amendment would allow people with chronic debilitating 
conditions to use marijuana if a licensed doctor recommends it in 
writing. The pot would be sold at state regulated dispensaries.

Kevin Sabet, director of the Institute on Drug Policy at the 
University of Florida, joined Voth in arguing against the amendment, 
saying it is too loosely drawn. Anyone of any age could get pot for 
any reason, according to the ballot language, he said, echoing those 
who believe the word "debilitating" is too vague. Florida, notorious 
for opiate based pill mills, will then end up with pot mills as well, he said.

Chemical substances found in marijuana can indeed have medical uses, 
Sabet said, but drug companies are starting to develop derivatives in 
safe pill form so that patients don't have to rely on pot purveyors 
with no medical or scientific training.

At times, the debate grew heated and personal. Sabet advised the last 
three presidents on drug policy and spoke of how the UF institute is 
devoted to combating drug abuse. Morgan accused Sabet of making a 
living by opposing marijuana initiatives all over the country, or 
"selling fear."

Sabet accused Morgan of twisting facts, "which I guess is a virtue in 
your profession."

St. Pierre predicted that the amendment, which would require a 60 
percent or better vote to pass, is a done deal. "This is about 
personal freedom and self preservation," he told a mostly 
appreciative crowd. "And you can't win in America when you fight 
personal freedom and self preservation."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom