Pubdate: Wed, 17 Sep 2014
Source: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Copyright: 2014 Sun-Sentinel Company
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/mVLAxQfA
Website: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/159
Author: David Fleshler, Staff writer
Page: B1

POT DEBATED -- EVENTUALLY

It was part marijuana debate and part voter-registration drive, with 
a distinctly Democratic tilt.

A proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot would 
allow marijuana to be legally given to anyone with a doctor's 
referral who has "conditions for which a physician believes that the 
medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health 
risks for the patient."

Democrats see the issue as away to turn out voters in a 
non-presidential election, particularly young voters.

For more than a half hour before the debate got under way Tuesday at 
Broward College in Pembroke Pines, the audience heard exhortations on 
the need to vote from state Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, who 
moderated the debate, Broward Elections Supervisor Brenda Snipes, and 
two Democratic party lawyers, Anthony Quackenbush and Jason Blank.

The audience of about 140 people dwindled as the lawyers droned on 
about absentee ballot requirements and other voting mechanics.

"I'd like to thank the people who are still here," said Ben Pollara 
of United for Care, which supports the amendment. "This may be one of 
those deals where they tell you you're going to get a free cruise and 
you have listen to a time-share thing first."

During the debate, two starkly different pictures were painted by 
leaders of the campaigns for and against Amendment 2.

Javier Correoso of Drug Free Florida, which opposes the amendment, 
warned of a state in which infamous pill mills are replaced by seedy 
strip-mall marijuana centers, in which unaccompanied teens obtain 
"recommendations" to light up to treat vague medical conditions.

"This amendment pretty much legalizes the use of marijuana for any 
and every reason," he said.

Pollara said it would legitimize decisions by patients, their doctors 
and caregivers to obtain the best treatment possible without the risk 
of being hauled into court. Parental consent would remain necessary.

"This is about getting medical relief to sick Floridians, period, end 
of story," he said.

 From the audience's questions and reactions, it was clear most 
people in the room favored the amendment. When Correoso said, "This 
is a flat-out attempt to legalize pot use in Florida," there was 
applause and cries of "Yeah!"

During the question period, Tim Mullin, a Vietnam veteran from Davie, 
said he uses marijuana to deal with the post-traumatic stress 
disorder from the war.

"When I smoke a joint,I go from a Number 10 rage to a Number three, 
looking in my icebox for something to munch on," he said. "It's been 
here. It's going to be here. We have to get used to it. Let's have 
that chat about how can we do this right."

Another speaker, M.J. Seide of Hollywood, said marijuana has turned 
out to be the only thing that could really treat her pain from a 
skeletal disorder called Scheuermann's disease.

"I've had 13 spinal surgeries in the last four years and both of my 
hips replaced," she said. "The amount of nerve pain and muscle pain I 
have is insurmountable. I tried it for the first time four years ago, 
and I found myself for the first time pain free. Finally I've taken 
myself off all my prescribed medications. At 64 years old, I've 
become a criminal."

Sobel insisted the event was nonpartisan, noting the voter 
registration information discussed applied equally to all parties. "I 
really wanted the students to come in and hear a debate," she said. 
"That's why I did it on campus. I don't know how they're going to vote." 
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom