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RESEARCH DOESN'T JUSTIFY LEGALIZING MEDICAL POT

Amendment 2, termed "Use of Marijuana for Certain Medical Conditions" on the November ballot, represents a classic case of creating medicine by public opinion, not by science and research.

And, I can assure you that in spite of the anecdotal stories claiming the amazing benefits of "medical marijuana" for everything from epilepsy and cancer to any "condition" a physician identifies, there is currently no scientific evidence that meets the peer-reviewed, statistically relevant level for both effectiveness and safety that prescription medications must meet in the United States today.

When conducting scientific research, there are various steps that any potential medication must go through to prove that it not only works but is safe, including the documentation of the potential benefits in patients, observational and scientific studies, laboratory and animal experiments, and human and double-blind studies to ensure accuracy.

With that said, the evidence on "medical marijuana" is very preliminary.  While there are supporters of "medical marijuana" who tout studies that may lead someone to believe that they have "proved" the beneficial effects of marijuana, none of the studies I have seen have been statistically reliable in proving the effectiveness or safety for the treatment of the diseases specifically named in Amendment 2.  In fact, as a whole, I believe they prove nothing.

Currently, what we do know is that there is some evidence that delta-9-THC, dronabinol and nabilone - all derivatives of THC - may benefit some patients with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, appetite stimulation in advanced cancers, and dietary problems seen in HIV and AIDS patients.  Paradoxically, increased vomiting has been reported with repeated marijuana use.

There is also some evidence that cannabinoids, the non-euphoric component of marijuana, may benefit some patients with relieving pain, anxiety and sleep problems.  And, there is anecdotal evidence that marijuana that is high in cannabidiol and low in THC may reduce seizures for children with severe epilepsy.  This drug, also known as Charlotte's Web, is now available on a compassionate basis to children with two forms of epilepsy.

However, there is still insufficient safety and efficacy data available at this point to scientifically prove the benefits of marijuana, and the evidence demonstrating the adverse effects of marijuana is very strong.  According to the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine ( June 5, 2014 ), the evidence is clear that the long-term use of marijuana use can lead to addiction, especially for young people and longterm users.  Even the documented impact on brain development is startling, showing a significant decline in IQ , learning ability and memory.

And, if Amendment 2 passes, we can expect there to be many people who are basically running an "uncontrolled experiment" on themselves by taking marijuana, believing that it is safe because it is termed "medical." Many of them will even experience severe physical and emotional changes that could alter their lives, as well as their family and friends' lives, forever.

My plea is that before we create the "medicine" of marijuana by public opinion, let's first do the scientific research and clearly demonstrate that marijuana, or its derivatives, are actually an effective and safe treatment for a specific disease.

So, please join me, the seven former Florida Supreme Court justices, as well as numerous organizations and editorial boards across the state, who have said that Amendment 2 has no place in our state's constitution, and vote "No" on Amendment 2 this November.