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.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom