Douglas MacKinnon, in his guest column (“Medical marijuana on the ballot fraught with danger”) on Sunday, writes that he’s relatively new to the state. Perhaps this is why he is unfamiliar with the actions of the Florida Legislature this session.
His allusion to Hollywood and the sinister forces controlling Big Money makes for interesting reading, but hardly comports with the facts in the Florida debate on medical cannabis. The individuals crafting the bills are some of the most conservative members of the Legislature. The efforts they have led have been to avoid the very issues MacKinnon raises about the ballot initiative.
When Florida opened gambling to restricted parts of the state a decade ago, similar predictions of Big Money interests and statewide gambling were heard. For the several years we have had debates in the Legislature, and in spite of Big Money and outside interests, we have not adopted any such program. Predictions often are overblown on these types of divisive matters.
Already 20 states and the District of Columbia allow some variation of the use of medical cannabis to address problems related to devastating illnesses. Some allow further unspecified use for pain and suffering. In doing so, these states have acknowledged that cannabis has medical benefits and offers patients additional options for treatment.
The Legislature has heard testimony from citizens, doctors and even legislators who have had significant illnesses, attesting to the positive effects of cannabis. This testimony is compelling as to the medical necessity to take action for our citizens. Whether this is all we should do, given the evidence of other medical benefits for patients, is still open to debate. Regardless, the Legislature is trying to provide a medical option with safeguards to prevent abuse.
The Florida Medical Cannabis Association, a trade association of doctors, growers, investors and lawyers, supports this effort. We do so not just for the financial opportunities for Florida businesses, but because it makes medical sense to offer our citizens the same options that exist in other states.
We support this effort with requests for stringent business controls that set in place a regulatory structure that avoids some of the pitfalls of other states’ efforts. We hope that the Legislature can provide the safeguards that MacKinnon alludes to while allowing science and medicine to provide another option to Florida patients.
Cerise Naylor is executive director of the Florida Medical Cannabis Association.
Florida should OK medical cannabis: My Word
No comments:
Post a Comment