Pubdate: Wed, 01 Oct 2014
Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2014 Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Contact: http://www.heraldtribune.com/sendletter
Website: http://www.heraldtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/398
Author: James J.Griffith, M.D.

FEDERAL LAW GOVERNS POT

Florida voters may approve medical marijuana this year, but we must
remember that federal Laws passed in 1986 during the Reagan
Administration mandate prison sentences for unauthorized possession
and/or sale of all illegal drugs. Marijuana is a Class I narcotic, in
the same category as cocaine, LSD and heroin! The Drug Enforcement
Administration should re-evaluate this classification.

There is some merit to the claims that marijuana alleviates pain and
spasm in some neurological and malignant diseases.

However, if a Florida physician approves the use of marijuana for a
patient, he will be liable for federal prosecution. It would seem that
we must legalize marijuana at the federal level first, if we are going
to move in that direction.

There is a case in California in which Matt Davies was indicted by a
federal grand jury in Stockton for cultivating marijuana, even though
use is legal under the California Compassionate Care Act of 1996. He
was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison.

I think Amendment 2 should be defeated, and we should bring the issue
to the U.S. Congress for action first.

James J. Griffith, M.D.

Sarasota
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MAP posted-by: Matt