Source: Drug Enforcement Administration, Miami Field Division
Pubdate: Dec, 1998
Contact: G/S Christopher T. Macolini or IRS Bonnie Godshall at (305)590-4843
Mail: DEA, 700 Army-Navy Drive Arlington, VA 22202
Website: http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/
NOTICE: This report is intended for official law enforcement purposes only
and should be safeguarded against unauthorized or inadvertant disclosure.

MAP Note: The below is just a small section of a booklet produced with your
tax dollars, and obtained only thru a Freedom of Information Act request by
the newshawk to the DEA. Much more of the booklet, complete with photos,
graphs, a copy of the medical marijuana initiative being circulated in
Florida is on line at:
http://www.jug-or-not.com/survey/

SURVEY OF THE MARIJUANA SITUATION IN THE MIAMI FIELD DIVISION

[selected sections only]

MEDICAL CONSEQUENCES OF MARIJUANA USE

Recent medical research on marijuana has provided a plethora of information
regarding the harmful side effects of marijuana use and abuse. Janet Dundee
Lapey, M.D. summarizes the significant findings in Fact Sheet on Marijuana
Referenda, dated February 1998. Dr. Lapey, President of Drug Watch
International, is a retired pathologist who works to disseminate correct
medical information regarding drugs. Highlights from her fact sheet are
given here. 

Marijuana contains over 400 chemicals and pollutants, including hydrogen
cyanide, ammonia, carbon monoxide and acetone. Cancer-causing substances
such as benzapyrene, benzanthracene and benzene are found, in higher
concentrations than tobacco smoke. There is also four times the amount of
tar and carbon monoxide compared to tobacco smoke. 

Studies have shown that health risks to marijuana users include increased
fungal and bacterial pneumonias, which would adversely affect AIDS
patients, suppressing their immune systems. Marijuana smoke inflames the
lungs and surrounding areas, causing acute and chronic bronchitis and
airway injury. The immune defenses of the lungs are also compromised by
marijuana, impairing the ability of white blood cells to kill bacteria and
tumor cells. 

In the elderly, marijuana causes rapid heart rate and high blood pressure. 

Many users also suffer from hallucinations, memory impainnent, paranoia,
depression and panic attacks and withdrawal symptoms. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the American Medical Association
(AMA) and other major medical organizations have stated that marijuana has
not been scientifically shown to be a safe and effective medicine.
Marijuana remains, therefore, a Schedule I drug that has a high potential
for abuse, with no medicinal use. 

LEGALIZATION

Throughout the U.S., efforts are being undertaken, some successful, to
enact legislation legalizing "medicinal" marijuana and/or hemp. These
efforts are seen by law enforcement as an attempt to legalize marijuana in
general. California and Arizona passed the most liberal laws to date. 

Proposition 215 in California, also known as the Compassionate Use Act of
1995, "exempts patients and defined caregivers who possess or cultivate
marjuana for medical treatment recommended by a physician from criminal
laws which otherwise prohibit possession or cultivation Of maryuana. " The
law also states, "physicians who recommend use of marijuana for medical
treatment shall not be punished or denied any right or privilege. " 

Passed by 56-percent of California voters, this loosely worded law does not
make provisions for protecting children or consumers. There is no mention
of age limits of users, potency or content of marijuana,. nor does it
require Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the so-called
medicine, -which would then require a registered physician's prescription.
It should be noted that the law uses the word, "recommendation," instead of
"prescription." 

Since enacted, marijuana has been dispensed in California Buyer's Clubs for
illnesses such as foot pain, headaches and pre-menstrual syndrome, with
"caregivers" recommendations written on items such as notepads and napkins. 

While also focusing on the medical issue, Arizona's law added a "get-tough
on crime" component to it. The Drug Medicalization, Prevention and Control
Act of 1996, Proposition 200, states: "Anyperson who commits a violent
crime while under the influence of illegal drugs shouldserve 100% ofhis or
her sentence with absolutely no early release. " It also provides
"parolelprobation and treatmentforpersons convicted qf'only personal
possession of controlled substance onfirst two offenses. " 

Of greater significance is the law's provision permitting doctors "to
prescribe Schedule I controlled substances to treat a disease, or to
relieve the pain and suffering oj'seriously ill and terminally ill
patients. " This in effect legalizes all Schedule I drugs for medical use,
not just marijuana. 

Pro-legalization forces in both states financed television commercials
designed to appeal to the compassion and emotions of the voters. Wealthy
financiers, mainly from outside of California and Arizona, such as currency
dealer George Soros, George Zimmer of the Men's Wearhouse, Peter Lewis of
Progressive Corporation Insurance in Ohio and John Sperling of the
Phoenix-based Apollo Group provided support totaling millions of dollars. 

It is expected that similar efforts will be forthcoming in Florida as the
medical marijuana issue possibly comes to a vote in November 1998. The Fort
Lauderdale-based group "Floridians for Medical Rights" is circulating
petitions (opposite page) attempting to get the required 435,000 signatures
that would place the issue on the ballot. These signatures must be
collected by August 4, 1998. Changing tactics from those used in California
and Arizona, the group is attempting to change the state Constitution by
filing a petition to amend with the Secretary of State of Florida on August
27, 1997. 

Similar to California and Arizona, the wording of the amendment allows for
liberal interpretation. Again, there are no requirements for doctors'
prescriptions, physical examinations, nor does it specify which illnesses
would be treated. There are no specifications for dosages or quality
controls and no age restriction. 

On January 21, 1998, Florida Governor Lawton Chiles and Cabinet issued a
resolution denouncing the current medical marijuana legislation sponsored
by "Floridians for Medical Rights", citing medical, legal, and social
concerns. 

Passed by the Florida House of Representatives on April 16, 1998, was House
Resolution 9437, which opposes any legislation or activities that are not
consistent with current national and state scheduling processes,
specifically including marijuana and any other illegal drug for any purpose
in the state. 

On May 27-28, 1998, the Florida Department of Community Affairs, the
Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Drug Free American Foundation, Inc.
and Save Our Society from Drugs sponsored a Marijuana Education Summit in
Orlando, Florida. This informative two-day event brought together leading
medical researchers, law enforcement personnel, political figures and
prevention specialists in Florida and throughout the country to discuss the
problems associated with marijuana use and abuse. Each organization and
speaker expressed a commitment to fighting any legalization attempts in
Florida. 

This commitment in Florida can be signifigant, not only to the state but to
the rest of the US as the correlation between actions of authority figures
and drug use among teens becomes clear. The figure below depicts specific
events in the legalization and prevention efforts in the country since
1970, overlaid with figures for regular drug use among 12th grade students. 

Marijuana use steadily and quickly increased in the 1970's as the efforts
of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)
increased in popularity. During that time 11 states decriminalized
marijuana as well. 

Drug use levels declined drastically in the early 1990's, due to the
efforts of groups like National Families in Action (NFIA), Parents Resouce
for Drug Education (PRIDE), National Family Partnership (NFP), Drug
Awareness Resource and Education (DARE), and Partnership for a Drug Free
America (PDFA). 

It is hard to ignore the recorded steady increase of twelfth graders using
drugs regularly since millions of dollars have been donated to
pro-legalization organizations and the subsequent legalization efforts in
California and Arizona. 

[end of selection - nearly all of the booklet is on-line at
http://www.jug-or-not.com/survey/ ]
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake