Pubdate: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 Source: Pensacola News Journal (FL) Copyright: 2014 The Pensacola News Journal Contact: http://static.pnj.com/contactus-form/ Website: http://www.pnj.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1675 Author: Dr. Karin Pardue Note: Dr. Karin Pardue lives in Pensacola. AMENDMENT 2 LACKS SAFEGUARDS As a practicing physician, I have serious concerns about Amendment 2. Primarily, I am worried that patient care and outcomes will be damaged if Amendment 2 is allowed to pass because, no matter where you stand on the issue of medical marijuana, it's clear this amendment does not have the appropriate safeguards for patients in place. In fact, if this amendment is approved, no prescriptions for pot will be written by physicians because prescriptions won't be required to get pot. Instead, a physician must only issue a recommendation for someone to obtain pot for a "debilitating disease" or "other condition." These "other conditions" may include things such as back pain, headaches or menstrual cramps. This open-ended language that allows for other conditions which aren't defined in the amendment leaves a gaping hole for unscrupulous doctors to recommend pot for nearly anything. So, what other safeguards are missing from this amendment? For one, it will allow minors to get pot without parental consent. As a physician, I cannot prescribe most medications without parental consent, with the exception of some emergency scenarios, so why would this amendment not include that same provision for pot? Amendment 2 will also allow anyone to distribute pot as a "caregiver," so long as they are 21 years of age - they do not even need to be a family member - while other medications require a pharmacist or doctor to dispense. Oh, and if you get an unscrupulous doctor in your community who recklessly recommends pot and someone is injured as result of that pot, the victim has no legal recourse because Amendment 2 provides total immunity for pot docs. So, under this amendment, a doctor could be sued for an adverse drug reaction from prescribing aspirin, but not recommending marijuana. All doctors have studied long and hard to practice medicine, but if this amendment passes, the medical profession will be put on the same level as drug dealers. There is no argument that legitimate and serious illnesses exist which require medication. But, if Florida wants legalized medical marijuana, we need legislation that will protect patients, while providing for their needs in a safe, regulated manner - not this ill-advised, vaguely written amendment that's really aimed at legalizing recreational marijuana. I encourage my family, friends and neighbors to vote "no" on Amendment 2 this Election Day. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom