Pubdate: Fri, 26 Sep 2014
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2014 The Tribune Co.
Contact: http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-letters/submit/
Website: http://tbo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446
Author: Don Enslinger
Page: A15

AMENDMENT 2 A DANGER TO OUR HEALTH, FAMILIES AND QUALITY OF LIFE

Special to The Tampa Tribune

Earlier this year I joined with Florida's sheriffs to support recently
passed legislation that legalized a specific strain of non-euphoric
medical marijuana low in THC, known as Charlotte's Web, because it can
aid in the treatment of epileptic seizures in children. In contrast,
Amendment 2 to the Florida Constitution will hurt more people than it
could ever help. As the sheriff of Seminole County, I believe that
passage of Amendment 2 will lead to serious health and public safety
consequences for our communities, our children, our families, and our
quality of life.

People might be surprised to hear that legalized marijuana in other
states is already providing a steady supply of pot to drug dealers
here in ours. In Seminole County, in the past 18 months alone, more
than 90 percent of the marijuana we intercepted in our county was
purchased lawfully in states that allow marijuana for either medical
or recreational use. Bear in mind, this is not the low-grade marijuana
of the 1970s. The potency of marijuana has strengthened, making it
more harmful than ever before. If Florida passes Amendment 2, we could
become the South's newest drug dealer, and easily the biggest supplier
to our neighboring southern states.

Additionally, other states that have legalized marijuana for
recreational or medicinal purposes have seen vast increases in
accidental exposures and hospitalizations, especially in children, and
directly as a result of the exposure to edible marijuana products.

Amendment 2 is grossly incomplete, flawed, and dangerous. There are no
prescriptions needed. Amendment 2 states that a physician only needs
to 'certify' in writing that the patient suffers from a 'debilitating
medical condition,' and he or she believes 'the medical use of
marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks.' The
patient then goes to a 'Medical Marijuana Treatment Center,' the
locations where marijuana is distributed. As we have seen in other
states, we fully expect doctors will make profits by opening marijuana
dispensaries ('treatment centers') next door to their offices in order
to easily deal to those who they have just 'diagnosed.' Initial
assessments indicate there will be more than 400,000 'patients,' and
that servicing them will require nearly 1,800 treatment centers. These
centers will crop up in our community in strip malls, near our
schools, and by our recreation areas.

Amendment 2 also provides for 'caregivers.' These are people who get
special medical marijuana identification cards and 'assist' patients
in using marijuana. They are not required to be medical professionals,
they don't need to have any medical training, and there are no
background checks required. They will just need to be 21 years of age.
They don't even have to reside in our state.

There are no age requirements for patients. Shockingly, under
Amendment 2, children can be provided marijuana from a physician or a
caregiver without parental consent. Studies have shown that frequent
use by teenagers leads to a decrease in brain function over time.
Marijuana use and abuse is already a concern in our youth, and by
increasing the availability of products such as: 'Pot-Tarts,'
'Krondike Bars,' 'nugtella,' and 'Stoney Ranchers,' will only serve to
worsen the problem.

It took years for us to harness the prescription drug epidemic.
Amendment 2 would bring the same problems all over again.

I encourage members of our community to read the language closely.
Unlike a law passed during a legislative session that can be fixed as
unforeseen consequences arise, Amendment 2 changes the Florida
Constitution and would be virtually impossible to modify or undo. And
there is absolutely no accountability in place. Amendment 2 includes
language that removes all criminal and civil liability at every level
of the marijuana chain. Put all this together, and Florida will have
an unbreakable and unenforceable supply chain that provides marijuana
to anyone who wants to get high.

Don Eslinger has served as Seminole County sheriff since 1991. He is a
member of the Florida Sheriffs Association and a supporter of the
Don't Let Florida Go to Pot Coalition.
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