Pubdate: Sun, 02 Nov 2014
Source: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Copyright: 2014 Sun-Sentinel Company
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/mVLAxQfA
Website: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/159
Author: Gary Stein
Page: 23A

POT CRITICS FULL OF REEFER MADNESS

Perhaps it's because people are simply mesmerized by the remarkable 
charisma and strength of Florida's two gubernatorial candidates.

Perhaps it's because people have gone off the deep end after 
receiving another memo in their inbox asking for a buck, or $10, or 
$20 from a candidate.

Perhaps it's because people are busy deciding if it's cool or not to 
still rock their Heat jerseys from Mr. Ego, LeBron.

Or perhaps it's because people are worried about the infestation of 
the giant African land snail, which might make a good write-in 
candidate for governor considering our choices, but that's another story.

For whatever reason, it seems Amendment 2 - the medical marijuana 
amendment - has lost its mojo just days before the election.

It seems like just a few hours ago, medical marijuana was a 
slam-dunk. It had more than 75 percent support in Florida, far more 
than the 60 percent needed for passage on Tuesday.

People were well aware that marijuana could ease some of the pain and 
suffering of adults - and even younger folks. It could bring relief 
to people who get nauseated from chemotherapy. It could help people 
with multiple sclerosis and other diseases. The Florida Department of 
Health reported 400,000 people in the state might benefit from 
treatment with medical marijuana.

Offering even some bit of relief to people who are suffering is good 
enough for me. And for a long time, it was good enough for most people.

But polls now indicate Amendment 2 is in a real battle to reach the 
magic 60 percent mark. One poll even said it was "done."

Opponents of the measure - as well as supporters - have put a ton of 
money into advertising in the last few weeks. Sheldon Adelson, casino 
honcho and well-known supporter of Republican candidates and 
conservative issues, has reportedly donated $5 million to Drug Free 
Florida, which is the main group opposing the amendment.

Opponents are doing everything but putting a DVD of "Reefer Madness" 
into every Floridian's mailbox.

(For the uninitiated, "Reefer Madness" is the "cautionary tale" from 
the 1930s explaining in ominous tones how a tad of marijuana could 
make you jump off buildings, among other horrible things. It was 
supposed to be serious, but it's become a hysterical cult classic. 
Google it if you haven't seen it. You'll thank me.)

Check message boards and other sources, and you'll see a variety of 
reasons why opponents say Amendment 2 is a terrible, dangerous thing.

It is vague and has loopholes, they say. Sorry, but every amendment 
is vague and has loopholes.

It could have unforseen consequences, we are told. Yes, and you could 
walk down the street and get hit by a bus. Unforseen things happen.

Pot smoking can lower the IQ of teen users by up to eight points, we 
are being told. So can being on your iPhone all day.

Opponents say TV medical guru Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who had a big report 
on marijuana before sort of backtracking, is really not for medical 
marijuana, and his opinion is being misinterpreted. Seriously?

Even Agriculture Secretary Adam Putnam says passage of Amendment 2 
could hurt our reputation as a "family-friendly and business-friendly 
state." Seems to me that easing pain and suffering is pretty family-friendly.

Sorry, I don't buy it.

Colorado and Washington have made recreational marijuana legal, and I 
have yet to hear anything about those states blowing up. Making 
marijuana legal for people who need to relieve pain and nausea simply 
sounds humane to me. This should be a choice made by a person in 
consultation with their doctor, rather than a politician telling us 
what is good for us and what isn't.

Now that we've settled that, about that write-in for the giant 
African land snake ...
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom