Pubdate: Sat, 18 Oct 2014
Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL)
Copyright: 2014 Orlando Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/325
Note: Rarely prints out-of-state LTEs.
Page: A14

POT AMENDMENT: VOTE NO

The stories are heart wrenching. There's the heroic lifeguard who 
dove into disaster trying to rescue a swimmer. Now, brief respites 
from relentless pain and ruthless spasms come only through pot-infused edibles.

Then there's the 60-ish wheelchair-user who grows her own cannabis to 
combat the indelicate drooling, face-numbing, and other withering 
dysfunction of deadly ALS. And there's the 
lawbreaker-turned-lawmaker. He procured pot for a dying friend who 
longed to stomach his last meals. The obliging friend - current 
Republican Senate President Don Gaetz - granted his friend a dying 
wish and dignity, scoring the illicit drug in obedience of a higher 
law - compassion.

Compassion's the thread that knits dreadful stories told by advocates 
of Amendment 2. The proposal, on the Nov. 4 ballot, would alter the 
state constitution, permitting doctors to recommend marijuana for 
patients with debilitating conditions.

Advocates say the stories demonstrate the power of marijuana to work 
miracles absent the sometimes deadly and addictive results of 
powerful prescription painkillers

Yet, at its heart, Amendment 2 is a populist appeal, a heartfelt call 
for compassion. One that would be codified in the state constitution 
should 60 percent of Floridians vote yes. And therein lies the rub. 
Compassion is a shiny EKG of pulsing humanity. However, it often 
proves a shaky rudder for governance. And this compassion play is no 
exception. Certainly, marijuana, in some cases, may prove the proper 
medicine. However, legalizing it through a constitutional amendment 
is the wrong prescription.

Advocates note 23 states and the District of Columbia endorse medical 
marijuana. What they conveniently omit, however, is that most went 
the legislative route. It's why seven former Florida Supreme Court 
justices recently voiced opposition on those grounds to Amendment 2.

"Once an amendment is in the constitution, it is extremely difficult 
to change," wrote former Justice Ken Bell, who sat on the court from 
2003-08. "A subject such as this should be addressed by general 
[legislative] law ..."

As the Legislature did earlier this year, legalizing Charlotte's Web, 
a noneuphoric strain of marijuana, to help kids burdened with 
life-threatening epileptic seizures. Legislation, by the way, titled, 
the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act.

Other notable opponents of Amendment 2, in addition to the retired 
justices, include the Florida Sheriff's Association and the Florida 
Medical Association.

Critics rightly warn that Amendment 2 is too broad and potentially 
littered with loopholes. We, too, worry that unintended consequences 
related to access and qualifying conditions could rain down on the 
Sunshine State.

It might not result in Pill Mills 2.0. However, any potential flaws 
would be far easier (and cheaper) for lawmakers to tweak in statute 
than to address through another amendment.

Even Orlando attorney John Morgan, the face of Amendment 2, conceded 
in an interview with the Editorial Board that this pursuit of a 
constitutional amendment is a last resort to circumvent a "broken" Tallahassee.

Not that it's warrant to be penny wise and pound-foolish.

We're not indifferent to the genuine suffering of Floridians. Despite 
that white-hat motive of Amendment 2, we don't think voters should 
make this decision listening only to their hearts, and not also to their heads.

In December, Morgan told the Tampa Bay Times, "Everyone here knows 
that one day medical marijuana is going to be legal in Florida.

Perhaps. But Nov. 4 shouldn't be the day. Nor should a constitutional 
amendment be the way.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom