Pubdate: Sun, 19 Oct 2014
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
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: David Gee
Note: David Gee is the sheriff of Hillsborough County.
Page: V3

WHY PARENTS SHOULD BE ALARMED ABOUT AMENDMENT 2

By now we've all heard the arguments for and against the legalization 
of 'medical' marijuana under Amendment 2. The amount of inaccurate 
and confusing information about the legalization of 'medical' 
marijuana can overwhelm parents.

Some of the information we hear about cannabis is conflicting, making 
it hard to understand the ways it may affect our children. Is it 
addictive? Does it cause psychosis? Is it really a medicine? What 
will happen if my child uses it? What should I tell - or not tell - 
my child about it?

Adults haven't quite made sense of it all yet, so it's even harder to 
explain to kids. It's legal in Colorado, Washington and Arizona, but 
still illegal under the federal law? How will this all play out in a 
year? Five years? Ten years?

Unfortunately, young people interpret public support for 'medical' 
marijuana laws like Amendment 2 as confirmation that marijuana usage 
is a low-risk behavior. The opposite is true. Emerging research shows 
that smoking marijuana before the brain completes maturing, generally 
around age 25, is strongly associated with long-lasting forms of brain damage.

Studies find that teens who report regular marijuana use are 60 
percent more likely to drop out of high school, seven times more 
likely to attempt suicide, 18 times more likely to develop cannabis 
dependence and eight times more likely to use other illicit drugs 
later in life.

Adolescent marijuana use is also increasingly linked to a long-term 
reduction in intelligence and the development of schizophrenia and 
other psychotic disorders. The amount of the psychoactive and 
addictive ingredient THC in marijuana has risen steadily over the 
past three decades, presenting the frightening implication that 
future damage to young minds and potential will be even be worse.

In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration is responsible for 
approval and regulation of drugs. Marijuana has nearly 500 chemical 
compounds, and its smoke contains 50 percent to 70 percent more 
carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke. Ballot initiatives like 
Amendment 2 sidestep FDA safeguards and protections. The result is 
that marijuana sold in 'medical dispensaries' is largely the same in 
quality and has the same addiction and health risks as marijuana sold 
on the street.

Absent in the discussion about 'medical' marijuana is the impact 
legalization of marijuana will have on your children and you as a 
parent. Although the potential benefits and consequences of medical 
marijuana are yet to be scientifically validated, parents will 
immediately begin to feel the consequences. As a parent, would you 
let someone under the influence of alcohol drive your children to 
school or teach them in a classroom? How will you know if the school 
bus drivers or teachers responsible for driving your children or 
teaching them are under the influence of 'medical' marijuana?

Of course, this is not limited to the school system. What about 
healthcare providers or law enforcement officers making life and 
death decisions while under the influence of 'medical marijuana?' 
What will be the cost to employers, public and private, to litigate 
the denial of a 'constitutional right' in cases where employees are 
prohibited from being under the influence at work?

Other unforeseen consequences to our children as our nation continues 
its rush to legalize marijuana emerge almost daily. Marijuana is a 
contributing factor to more and more traffic crashes - crashes that 
are already the leading cause of death among young people. Another 
less deadly, but still troubling, consequence came through recent 
headlines. A legal manufacturer of marijuana-infused candy in Denver, 
Colorado, admitted that many such products are indistinguishable from 
candy that has been on the market for years, stating that 'there's 
really no way for a child or a parent or even anybody, even an expert 
in the field, to tell you whether or not a product is infused or 
not.' As a result, local police are warning parents about the new 
danger to allowing children to trick or treat.

The Florida Department of Health estimates that 1,800 'medical 
marijuana treatment centers' will open in Florida if Amendment 2 
passes. Hillsborough County alone may have 120 such marijuana 
dispensaries. Parents will be left to explain to children why 
marijuana dispensaries with names like the Cannabis Clinic, the 
Cannabis Club or the Cannabis Hemporium are more numerous than fire 
stations, libraries, middle schools, high schools and even McDonald's 
restaurants.

Studies conducted in medical marijuana states provide clues as to 
what Florida can expect should Amendment 2 pass. Residents in medical 
marijuana states have marijuana abuse/dependence rates almost twice 
as high as states without such laws. Fifteen of the top 20 states 
with the highest levels of driver-admitted drugged driving are 
medical marijuana states. 'Medical' marijuana states appear at the 
top of the list in terms of drug addiction and abuse by 12- to 
17-yearolds. A large national survey estimates that 40 percent of 
12th-grade marijuana users in medical marijuana states obtained 
marijuana through their own or another person's medical marijuana 
'prescription.' Advocates of Amendment 2 have said that future 
Florida Legislatures will be able to fix the law if unacceptable 
issues arise from its passage, and legislative leaders have confirmed 
they will try to do so. However, all parties understand the truth - 
legislative bodies cannot take away rights that are granted within a 
state or federal constitution. If Amendment 2 is passed, it will 
create a constitutional right to 'medical' marijuana that is among 
the most permissive in the nation.

Amendment 2 creates a constitutional right for citizens to be 
approved for medical marijuana use for any 'conditions for which a 
physician believes that the 'medical' use of marijuana would likely 
outweigh the potential health risks.' Physicians treating patients 
for toothaches, depression, psoriasis or foot pain will all have a 
constitutional right to authorize the use of marijuana for their patients.

Although the majority of our physicians adhere to sound, responsible 
medical practices we all saw what happened with the proliferation of 
the 'pill mills' throughout the state where a handful of unscrupulous 
doctors were writing tens of thousands of prescriptions a month 
resulting in thousands of deaths to our citizens.

Florida's 'medical' marijuana treatment centers will have a 
constitutional right to sell medical marijuana and also 
marijuana-infused 'food, tinctures, aerosols, oils, or ointments.' 
Future legislation that seeks to reasonably restrict the use of 
medical marijuana to certain disabling diseases, to narrow the type 
of physicians who can 'prescribe' marijuana, or to prohibit 
marijuana's placement in food products that appeal to children, such 
as candy, will likely be challenged as unconstitutional.

Science documents that addiction is a disease of the brain and has 
the same, and at times more debilitating effects, than other chronic 
medical conditions. Alcoholism, illicit drug use and addiction to 
prescription drugs all have a negative effect on the individual, the 
family, and the community. The cost to society of addiction is 
staggering and is reflected in health challenges, school failure, 
lost job productivity, child welfare and justice system involvement.

Government-funded research seeking safe and effective use of 
marijuana or its component compounds has been ongoing and many new 
research projects are moving forward. Because this process involves 
extensive testing to safeguard the lives of Americans, it will take 
time. Amendment 2 will short-change this process at the expense of 
the safety and well being of Florida's citizens and in particular, 
our children.

I urge Florida voters to carefully consider these facts when voting 
on Amendment 2. Let's keep Florida as a proud example of a state that 
values and protects the safety of our citizens and particularly our 
children above all else.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom