Pubdate: Sun, 27 Apr 2014
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2014 The Tribune Co.
Contact: http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-letters/
Website: http://www.tampatrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446
Author: Keith Morelli
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

SHERIFFS FIGHT AGAINST LEGALIZED POT

Campaign Cites Increase in Crime, Traffic Accidents

TAMPA - Florida law enforcement authorities are set to begin a public 
awareness campaign to fight the effort to legalize medicinal 
marijuana, a question that will be put to voters in November.

This winter, the Florida Sheriff's Association sent sheriffs across 
the state an email asking for their support of a resolution opposing 
the legalization of marijuana. A vast majority of the 67 sheriffs was 
in favor of fighting against any effort to legalize pot.

Steve Casey, executive director of the Florida Sheriff's Association 
said the board of directors approved the resolution language, which 
was emailed to each sheriff for review.

He then polled the sheriffs, he said.

"Of the 67 sheriffs, 63 cast their vote to support the resolution," 
he said, "and four abstained from voting on the issue."

The association now is drawing in substance-abuse awareness and 
anti-drug groups around the state to participate in the "Don't Let 
Florida Go To Pot" campaign focused on defeating the referendum, said 
Nanette Schimpf, spokeswoman for the association.

Florida voters will decide the issue in November.

"There are a lot of entities in the state that are very concerned 
about the specific language in the ballot amendment," Schimpf said. 
"We are launching the coalition (this) week."

In a statement released in January, the association said:

"Florida's sheriffs believe that approving broad exceptions to 
current state and federal law that would allow doctors to authorize 
use of marijuana for virtually any reason with little regulation will 
hurt children and families and lead to a lower quality of life for all."

The association pointed to what it says is a jump in crime and 
traffic accidents in states that have passed legislation legalizing 
pot. "Of the 20 states with the highest driver acknowledgement of 
drugged driving, 15 were states that have passed legislation 
legalizing marijuana," the association said. "The Los Angeles and 
Denver police departments have reported significant increases in 
crime since marijuana was legalized in their respective states."

Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee opposes the legalization of 
marijuana and said that if the referendum in November passes, there 
are no rules in place to govern the process, particularly for law enforcement.

"I guess there lot of studies both ways," Gee said, "but if you're 
going to do something like (legalize marijuana), you should be more 
thorough about the process. How do you enforce its use and all that?

"The other thing," he said, "there is no way anybody can, with 
straight face, say more marijuana will not end up in hands of kids. 
People need to think twice before they add to all the problems we 
already are having."

Among the reasons the association says it is against the measure:

Marijuana is listed as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled 
Substances Act, defined as having a high potential for abuse.

Legalizing marijuana comes with significant dangers to Florida 
youths, the association said. "The legalization of marijuana will 
make this drug more readily available and easier to obtain by teens, 
as they would not need parental consent to get a 'physician's 
certification' for marijuana. With no quality or dosage control, 
there is nothing in place to prevent these storefront marijuana 
dispensaries from selling to minors."

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said he doesn't have a problem with 
legitimate uses for medical marijuana, such as Charlotte's Web, the 
oil extract that is used to help those suffering from neurological or 
epileptic disorders. He said the impacts of the amendment put before 
voters, though, would go beyond just medical marijuana.

"If the amendment was truly about and focused only on medicinal 
marijuana, like Charlotte's Web, I would not oppose it," Nocco said. 
"However, the real purpose of this amendment is for recreational 
marijuana to be legalized, which I oppose."

Joining the "Don't Let Florida Go To Pot" campaign are several 
substance-abuse awareness groups, including the Hillsborough County 
Anti-Drug Alliance.

"We have coalitions across the state of Florida, in every county," 
said Cindy Grant, director of the alliance, whose role will be to 
"educate the community through newspaper and television ads, 
billboards and presentations throughout the community.

"What we want to do," she said, "is to get the correct information out there."

Alliance members are doing radio and television interviews and 
meeting with legislators, she said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom