Pubdate: Mon, 20 Oct 2014
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Page: A14
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: Al Byrne
Note: The writer, a retired Navy lieutenant commander, is CEO of 
Veterans for Compassionate Care and co-founder of Patients Out of 
Time and Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n812/a01.html

SCIENCE WINS

Regarding 'Don't let the 'Colorado Calamity' invade Florida' (Brad
King, Other Views, Oct. 16): I will not argue the statistics as to how
many dispensaries now operate in Colorado, but because law enforcement
has failed to protect legal businesses is hardly the fault of cannabis
or dispensary ownership. In Colorado, all violent crime is down. DUIs
are down. Death by suicide and pharmaceutical overdose is down. Only
burglary remains steady. Apparently, burglars do not use cannabis.

The suggestion that cannabis in mother's milk is bad is a glaring
example of medical cannabis ignorance. Melanie Dreher, RN, Ph.D, spent
over 30 years in Jamaica studying pregnant moms for the U.S.
government. She found that cannabis greatly relieved or eliminated
morning sickness, with no ill effects to mom or fetus. The children
born to these moms equaled or exceeded in intellect and social skills
non-cannabis-using moms.

I have been approved as a medical cannabis expert by the DEA. For
Floridians, voting 'yes' on Amendment 2 must be based on the
clinical/research education of medical and nursing professionals who
are cannabis experts. As an example, the American Nurses Association
has twice issued a 'white paper' calling on all U.S. nurses to be
educated about the therapeutic uses of cannabis. If cannabis is not a
medicine, why does the ANA think differently? Science wins, and
science declares cannabis is a very good and safe medicine.

Al Byrne, CarraBelle
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MAP posted-by: Richard