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: Frank Farmer
Note: Farmer, a retired physician who is former surgeon general of 
the state of Florida, resides in Ormond Beach.

NO ON AMENDMENT 2: PROFITS DRIVE PUSH FOR MARIJUANA

I have followed with great interest the letters concerning Amendment
2, which if passed would legalize marijuana - a substance that is
listed as a Schedule 1 drug by the Drug Enforcement Agency. This means
that it has no proven medical benefits, is addictive and harmful to
humans.

There is now an effort by a group of individuals. Some act with pure
motives, wanting to alleviate the suffering of those with cancer or
intractable seizures. Then there are others who will seek profit under
the guise of helping humanity. The state of Florida, if Amendment 2 is
passed, will be legalizing a drug delivered by smoking, an incongruity
that is incompatible with the principals of public health.

As the former surgeon general of Florida, I know only too well the
consequences of inappropriate use of any drug. In 2011, there were
8-10 deaths a day in Florida from prescription drugs. Out of the top
100 prescribing doctors for oxycodone in the country, 98 resided in
Florida. So called "pain clinics," manned by physicians who would sell
their souls for a pittance, sprang up across Florida and dispensed
powerful narcotics - charging $200-$300 for an office visit. Word
quickly spread that a person could visit several of these "pain
clinics" in a day, get multiple prescriptions for narcotics and resell
them at great profit. It was only after the Florida Legislature, law
enforcement agencies and the Office of the Surgeon General of Florida
acted that this scourge was controlled.

In July 2011, I declared a public health emergency in Florida because
of the deaths caused by illegal drug prescriptions. This enabled
public health officials to act more quickly against physicians who
participated in these activities. In a combined effort, over 300
so-called pain clinics were shut down, the licenses of over 200
physicians were revoked and over 35 doctors were sent to jail, where
they belonged. Today, out of the 100 top prescribing physicians for
oxycodone, none reside in Florida.

Now we are told that Amendment 2 is about compassion and seeing that
suffering is alleviated. This is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Amendment
2 is about legalizing marijuana and reaping the profits.

The Florida Legislature has already addressed the issue of medical
marijuana. It passed the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014,
which provides that individuals with certain medical conditions, such
as cancer or intractable seizures, under the direction of a physician
and the Department of Health, may take cannabis in a non-smoking form.

No, Amendment 2 is not about alleviating the suffering of individuals.
As Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson correctly pointed out, it is
about the sale of marijuana. If Amendment 2 passes, it will not help a
single individual more than the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act
already provides.

It will enable the marijuana merchants who are now lined up on the
border of Florida to descend upon the state to peddle to the citizens.
Law enforcement and public health officials would only be able to
stand idly by, as Amendment 2 will make it all legal.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard