Pubdate: Sat, 04 Oct 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: Ray Strack
Section: Other Views
Page: A16
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n776/a06.html

WHAT'S THE FUSS?

Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger claims 90 percent of the marijuana
his deputies seized in the past 18 months was purchased legally in
states where marijuana is legal for either medical or recreational use
('Sheriff Don Eslinger: Amendment 2 puts families and communities in
danger,' Other Views, Sept 26). If that's true, what's all the fuss over
Amendment 2? Florida's marijuana is already being regulated and taxed -
just not by Florida.

Taking him at his word, the illicit Florida marijuana market may
already have been overwhelmed by marijuana that was legally acquired
in one of the 23 states that already allow its use for medicinal or
recreational use. In each of those states it is grown under regulated
conditions and distributed in a safe, licensed, regulated
marketplace.

Patients in those states can go to a licensed, regulated dispensary
and purchase a safe product that has been inspected and free from
additives, pesticides, contaminants or mold.

We also know that it was taxed - just not by Florida. The states that
permit the medical use of marijuana are able to impose taxes at each
stage of production - on growers, distributors and patients. That's
not the case in Florida, and won't be if Amendment 2 opponents get
their way.

Florida lets other states establish the rules and take in the
revenues. Then we leave it to criminals to control its distribution in
our state. The gangs and syndicates reap billions in profits and cause
murder and mayhem in the process. If you suffer from a debilitating
condition and your doctor believes medical marijuana will help, you
should not be forced to become a criminal or deal with the likes of
people Eslinger and I spent our careers putting behind bars. At least
let Florida draw up the rules and impose the taxes.

Ray Strack, Fort Lauderdale

The writer, who is retired from the U.S. Customs Service, is a member
of LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition).
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