Pubdate: Sat, 28 Mar 2015
Source: Tampa Bay Times (FL)
Copyright: 2015 St. Petersburg Times
Contact: http://www.sptimes.com/letters/
Website: http://www.tampabay.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/419
Note: Named the St. Petersburg Times from 1884-2011.

DANGEROUS DITHERING ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

The Florida Legislature is making a serious mistake by refusing to 
take up legislation that would legalize medical marijuana. Lawmakers 
are conveniently forgetting a constitutional amendment to legalize 
marijuana for medical use was nearly approved by voters last year, 
and their inaction leaves supporters with no recourse but to go back 
to the ballot next year with a revised amendment. If they keep 
dodging the issue, it won't be reasonable in 2016 to argue this issue 
is better addressed in state law written by the Legislature than in a 
constitutional amendment that will be difficult to adjust later.

Bills introduced by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, and Reps. 
Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, and John Wood, R-Winter Haven, would allow 
for the broad use of medical marijuana for a range of maladies. Both 
bills ably address many of the concerns raised by opponents of the 
2014 proposed constitutional amendment, including closing the 
loophole on qualifying conditions and tightening criteria for 
caregivers. But neither proposal has been scheduled for a committee 
hearing, a critical step if a bill is to advance to the full 
Legislature. Lawmakers could still push the issue forward, but that 
would require courage, common sense and leadership, each of which has 
been in short supply in this session.

Legislators who think their reluctance to pass responsible medical 
marijuana legislation will scuttle the drug's legalization are 
placing bad bets. Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia 
have legalized some form of medical marijuana or decriminalized its 
use. Marijuana for medical use will eventually be legal in Florida, 
if not by legislative statue, then most certainly by constitutional amendment.

Ignoring the issue until next year's legislative session is another 
potentially disastrous choice. Dismayed by inertia in Tallahassee, 
medical marijuana proponents are already galvanizing support and 
collecting voter signatures for another amendment. This time they 
will likely get the votes they need to place medical marijuana in the 
state's Constitution. That route robs legislators of the chance to 
shape medical marijuana rules in a way that best serves Floridians 
and to make changes to legislation as needed.

The real losers in this standoff are sick Floridians. While 
legislators dither, people in pain continue to suffer, use 
traditional medicine that provides little relief or attempt to score 
marijuana on the street, a dangerous act when the opportunity to 
offer a legal remedy exists. There is still time for legislators to 
take action on medical marijuana this spring. But if they fail to 
move forward, voters' patience will understandably go up in smoke.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom