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.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom