Pubdate: Thu, 23 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.
Author: Erin Somers
Note: Erin Somers is a medical consultant in Central Florida and is 
on the Orlando Medical News Editorial Advisory Board.
Page: A19

2 Views on Medical Marijuana

YES: BENEFITS WOULD BE FAR-REACHING

Caregivers are now being called drug dealers by opponents of 
Amendment 2. As a medical consultant and a police officer's daughter, 
I am horrified by the comparison.

This November, we will vote on Amendment 2, which will expand the use 
of medical marijuana. This will be an important vote, as it will have 
a big effect on many people in our state who are have serious medical 
conditions, including Parkinson's disease, ALS, cancer, lupus and 
rheumatoid arthritis.

Knowledge is power, and it's important we are educated about 
Amendment 2. Let me clear up a couple of things.

We are not looking to legalize recreational use of marijuana. Anyone 
who says this will lead to legalizing recreational use is misguided.

We want medical marijuana strictly regulated like any other drug.

We have taken the first step with the passage of Florida Senate Bill 
1030, which legalizes low-tetrahydrocannabinol/highcannabidiol 
medical cannabis for patients with certain medical conditions. This 
is the bill that allowed Charlotte's Web medical cannabis for 
children who have seizures.

Medical marijuana can be grown to contain low THC, so regardless of 
how patients take it, they won't get high.

We want additional research on all the medical benefits that 
marijuana offers. The research has been promising, with Israel and 
Spain leading the way. Why are we not at the forefront of this 
research? One word: politics.

Research shows that the CBD in medical marijuana is beneficial as an 
anti-inflammatory. We've seen success with kids and epilepsy, and 
many other neurological diseases would benefit from additional 
research as well.

Cancer research looks promising, especially with brain cancer. 
Instead of getting chemotherapy, what if we could use the CBD 
component of medical marijuana? Research is showing that medical 
cannabis can stop cancer cells without affecting the healthy cells in 
the body. Amazing.

Be informed, go online and check out Dr. Sanjay Gupta's two-part 
medical-marijuana documentary "Weed" and "Weed 2." After much 
research, Gupta, chief medical correspondent for CNN, changed his 
mind and now supports medical marijuana. You might, too.
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