Pubdate: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 Source: Palm Beach Post, The (FL) Copyright: 2014 The Palm Beach Post Contact: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/333 Page: A6 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/props.htm (Ballot Initiatives) CLOUDS AROUND POT INITIATIVE NEED CLARIFYING The best headline off of Florida's newly signed medical marijuana law, known as the Charlotte's Web law, appeared on the Gawker website last week: "Florida legalizes boring medical weed that doesn't even get you high." That's precisely why the new Charlotte's Web law is such a good one. It is exactly what it appears to be: a legal way for people with clearly defined illnesses to get access to a specific type of cannabis with very low THC, meaning it really won't get users high. The same can't be said for the nebulous proposed constitutional amendment that will go before Florida voters in November. It looks like a medical marijuana amendment, but it smells like something stronger. During a debate at the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches last week, Jessica Spencer, the statewide coalition director for "Vote No on 2," warned that the ballot language is so "loosey-goosey," it could return Florida to the dark days of pill mills. The amendment's title is "Use of Marijuana for Certain Medical Conditions," making it sound as if those were narrowly defined, she said. In fact, Spencer noted, the amendment lists eight specific conditions that may be treated with marijuana, plus this language: "... or other conditions for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient." She said a doctor's "certification note" - they tellingly don't call it a prescription - could be issued for a hangnail without repercussions for the doctor or patient. "We've seen, 'It's for insomnia because my neighbor's dog is barking,'" Spencer told the chamber audience. Ben Pollara, campaign manager for Amendment 2 advocates United for Care, said the amendment is just a first step. The state will have an opportunity to pass stricter enabling legislation and administrative rules. "If a doctor recommends a course of treatment, that patient should be able to follow that course," Pollara said. The medical marijuana amendment is popular with likely voters, with recent polls showing support ranging between 66 percent and 80 percent. It seems destined to pass. If that's the case, legislators will have to work quickly. They'll need to work out how to license "medical marijuana treatment centers," what those centers sell and how their products are to be labeled, and precisely to whom it may be sold, and more. Because 22 other states now allow medical marijuana, lawmakers will have ample information on how to do it. Last week, for example, Rhode Island's legislature passed fixes to their law. They require criminal background checks for caregivers who obtain medicinal pot for their clients. They require places where marijuana is grown to follow local safety codes and undergo code inspections, to ensure the area's electrical grid isn't overwhelmed by grow lights. They place limits on how much can be grown in residential and commercial areas, and allow property owners to decline to rent their property to pot growers. Here in Florida, there still are more questions than answers about Amendment 2. The state doesn't yet know if sales tax would apply in all cases - here's an exemption for agriculture. And state law enforcement and health agencies don't yet know whether the amendment would add to their costs. Debates like the one at the chamber are helping clarify the issues. But they haven't yet cleared the air. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom