Pubdate: Sun, 12 Oct 2014
Source: Daytona Beach News-Journal (FL)
Copyright: 2014 News-Journal Corporation
Contact:  http://www.news-journalonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/700
Note: gives priority to local writers
Author: Alan Kaye
Note: Kaye is a retired detective for the state fire marshal. Prior 
to that, he spent 18 years on the Daytona Beach Police Department, 
including five years as a member of a narcotics task force. He lives 
in Edgewater

YES ON AMENDMENT 2: COMPASSION SHOULD GUIDE POT POLICY

Why is Texas billionaire Sheldon Adelson spending millions on
misleading television ads against Amendment 2? These ads remind me of
the 1950s "reefer madness" program launched by the federal government,
meant to stop the compassionate care that medical marijuana will bring
to many suffering from debilitating disease.

These ads are an insult to the intelligence of Florida voters, and fly
in the face of common sense. It only takes a few minutes of computer
research to demystify marijuana and learn the truth.

There are currently 23 states and the District of Columbia with
comprehensive medical marijuana programs in place. According to the
NORML website (yes, it is a website for marijuana reform, but that
does not negate the research), "modern research suggests cannabis is a
valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical
applications; these include pain relief, nausea, spasticity, glaucoma,
and movement disorders (to mention a few). Emerging research suggests
marijuana medicinal properties may protect the body against some types
of malignant tumors."

Arguments presented by Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson and others,
that passing Amendment 2 will cause a rise in crime and a variety of
other harmful consequences, echo the comments by opponents in the 23
states with medical marijuana laws. According to many sources, these
states have yet to see a rise in criminal activity, or any change in
use by adolescences or adults. In fact, violent crime dropped by 3
percent and property crime by 11 percent during one study period. A
death from marijuana overdose has never been reported.

In 1986, Cathy Jordan, a Florida woman, was given five years to live
due to ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Her prescribed
medication only made her worse, so she accepted her fate and stopped
the medication. She was introduced to marijuana, and today is not only
wheelchair-free but going strong - and one of the driving forces
behind Amendment 2, the compassionate care act.

Like it or not, the truth is anyone who wants to use marijuana can buy
it on the street. Street dealers do not ask for ID, they do not pay
taxes and they're not regulated. Legal or not, it is here to stay.

One year ago, my 61-year-old sister passed away with cancer of the
liver. She lived for several months in severe pain, exacerbated by
nausea from the pain medications. Two weeks prior to her passing,
someone offered her marijuana. She lived her last two weeks pain-free
and was able to gain a few pounds back, with the ability to keep food
down. So I have seen firsthand the medicinal effects of this drug. I
believe medical marijuana should be an alternative for anyone seeking
relief from physical problems.

If you are on the fence about voting for Amendment 2 please do some
research on your own. Don't be influenced by scare tactics.
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MAP posted-by: Richard