Pubdate: Tue, 10 Jun 2014
Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL)
Copyright: 2014 Orlando Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/325
Note: Rarely prints out-of-state LTEs.
Authors: Jerry Demings, Don Eslinger
Page: A12

A BACK DOOR TO RECREATIONAL POT

Amendment 2 may be on the November ballot, but don't expect the push 
to change the Florida Constitution to legalize medical marijuana to 
sail through.

The Drug Free Florida Committee - partnering Save Our Society from 
Drugs and the Florida Sheriffs Association - for example, hopes to 
snuff out support. Orange and Seminole County Sheriffs Jerry Demings 
and Don Eslinger recently shared concerns with the Sentinel Editorial 
Board. An excerpt of the discussion appears here and on YouTube. 
Search "Orlando Sentinel."

Q: What consequences do you foresee should Amendment 2 pass?

E: I think it will adversely impact our quality of life. Even [state 
analysts' projections] show from [417,252] to 1.6 million qualifying 
patients. They estimate there'll be over 1,700 pot shops and 
treatment centers. We believe it's de facto legalization. [For] 
qualifying patients, there is no age requirement. [Proprietors are] 
free from civil and criminal liability, as is the physician ... and 
then even the treatment centers, including employees, are held 
harmless in this amendment.

Q: What is the Sheriffs Association position on Charlotte's Web?

D: I believe I stand with the majority of sheriffs in that we're very 
compassionate about individuals for whom this could benefit them in 
some health way. Charlotte's Web is a non-euphoric, nonsmokable form 
of marijuana that certainly assists some individuals with 
debilitating illnesses. We get that....

We want to avoid the likelihood that individuals will simply be 
skirting the law and using the ruse of using [other forms of 
marijuana] for medical purposes, but really doing it for recreational 
purposes or supporting some other habit they have.

E: There have been states where they passed medical and go back for 
another voter initiative for recreational use.

Q: Can you see how amendment supporters would want to expand the 
compassionate Charlotte's Web appoach?

D: That's the challenge, I think, and the problem we see with the 
current language in the amendment. It's not clear enough to avoid the 
abuse of misapplication of what is intended ... It is disturbing to 
me that this amendment [is] being pushed forward without one shred of 
medical science to back it up; yet it is being pushed forward for 
medical reasons.

Q: Could there have been an amendment legalizing marijuana for 
medical purposes that you think the Sheriffs Association could have supported?

E: No. We don't think that offering medicine to the public by popular 
vote without the FDA safety net [is wise].

Q: What about critics who say your objection about kids' access to 
pot is a red herring?

E: United for Care (a campaign run by People United for Medical 
Marijuana and chaired by Orlando attorney John Morgan) will say that 
physicians are not allowed to provide medical treatment to minors 
without parental or guardian consent, and therefore, our age issue is 
groundless. This isn't medical treatment. They're not going to 
provide medical treatment. They are recommending, without DEA consent 
and their control number, and they're issuing a card from the 
Department of Health.

Q: With medical marijuana already legal in 19 states and the District 
of Columbia, isn't this becoming more common and less definitional 
for Florida and other states that are considering it?

D: It's not purely a defining moment for Florida; it's a defining 
moment for our nation. This is obviously something sweeping across 
the nation and multiple states.

Q: Advocates often liken laws against marijuana to prohibition 
against alcohol. How do you think it's different?

E: Alcohol and tobacco - we haven't done a good job with [either]. 
That's the two leading causes of preventable death, and adding 
marijuana through de facto legalization isn't going to help us.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom