Pubdate: Tue, 11 Oct 2016 Source: Tampa Bay Times (FL) Copyright: 2016 St. Petersburg Times Contact: http://www.sptimes.com/letters/ Website: http://www.tampabay.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/419 Author: John G Chase Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v16/n608/a08.html LABORATORY OF THE STATES The only sure way to know if the dire warnings against Amendment 2 (medical marijuana) will happen is to vote it in and find out. Fortunately for Florida, other states have already done that. The four states where marijuana is fully legal began with medical marijuana about 15 years before. Those years of experience told voters that the dire predictions were wrong. Amendment 2 is tightly written, with many safeguards, including room for the Legislature to act. Floridians are beneficiaries of the 'laboratory of the states.' If Amendment 2 passes and does not live up to its hoped-for benefits, Floridians will surely reject full legalization. John G. Chase, Palm Harbor - --- MAP posted-by: Matt