Thank you for sharing your opinion with the Governor. Governor Crist forwarded your letter to me for response. I am the Director of the Florida Office of Drug Control.
You asked “why is marijuana illegal?” Marijuana is illegal because it is dangerous.
Oh! Why didn’t you just say so? I’ll just tell that to my four buddies smoking cigarettes outside the bar. Bob’s a Alaskan crab boat fisherman; Joe goes scuba diving with sharks; Dan’s into free rock climbing – no equipment; and Pat’s a race car driver who’s also climbed Mt. Everest. That’s why they don’t smoke marijuana either, because it is so dangerous. C’mon, fellas, let’s get a shot of Jager and listen this Florida narc tell us how dangerous pot is.
Research has proven that marijuana use can be harmful; there are two major risks: respiratory disease and accidental injuries due to impairment.
Marijuana smokers are at no greater risk than non-smoking controls for head, neck, and lung cancers, emphysema, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. According to researchers writing in the Archives of Internal Medicine, “long-term marijuana smoking was associated with an increased risk of certain respiratory complications — including cough, bronchitis, phlegm, and wheezing.”
The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences scientific data indicate smoked marijuana is a crude tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) delivery system which also delivers harmful substances, therefore is not recommended for medical use.
California NORML scientific data indicate vaporized marijuana is an effective tetrohydrocannabinol (THC) delivery system which does not deliver harmful substances, therefore is highly recommended for medical use.
Research from the National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information states that all forms of marijuana are mind-altering; they change how the brain works. They also contain more than 400 other chemicals.
Kellogg’s Cheez-It’s are mind altering and change how the brain works and contain plenty of chemicals, too. This is a stupid argument to make when alcohol (far more mind altering) and tobacco (far more nasty chemicals – over 4,000!) are legal.
And that “400 chemicals” line – ooh, scary that! – OK, think people. 64 of them are cannabinoids, some of which seem to be anti-carcinogenic. The rest are chemicals common to every plant. Some (the carcinogenic kind) are only created when the plant is burned, not vaporized. It is just as true to say there are over 400 chemicals in an ear of corn.
Users suffer negative effects from marijuana. They may suffer sudden feelings of anxiety and have paranoid thoughts.
Like the anxiety, fear, and paranoid thoughts about a Florida Office of Drug Control agent in full body armor and toting an assault weapon bursting into their home over an ounce of plant material, ruining their lives with a prison sentence, loss of property, and a criminal record for life?
Florida law states:….”it is unlawful for any person to sell, manufacture, or deliver, or possess with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver, a controlled substance. The Florida sentencing guidelines are based on this chapter and vary according to the amount of the controlled substance possessed.” Marijuana is illegal and dangerous.
Just in case you missed the previous invocation of the Drug War Tautology (“marijuana is illegal because it is bad because it is illegal because it is bad because it is illegal because it is bad because it is illegal because it is bad because it is illegal… mmmkay?”)
Thank you again for sharing your opinion with Governor Crist.
Sincerely,
William H. Janes
Director
Florida Office of Drug Control
Heres the scoop, you can move, or make our lawmakers do something other than collect a freckin paycheck. Hold them accountable. If more people would get involved than it would seem to be less retards running in elected offices making big bucks.
My Letter to Gov.Charlie Crist (R)
As one of your constituents in Florida I am well aware that the time for change is now. Please support HR 2943: Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009 and HR 2835: Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act both sponsored by Respresentative Barney Frank of Massachusetts should you see them in the Senate.
Currently in Florida our citizens have initiated a petition to bring medical marijuana to the state of Florida Constitution.. This is a compassionate thing to do as marijuana relieves the suffering and symptoms for many medical conditions without the side effects of currently available medications. Using marijuana also cuts down on the number of medications patients have to take. Conditions similar to, but not limited to, multiple sclerosis, ALS, muscle spasms/spasticity, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, GI disorders, hepatitis C, HIV, arthritis, sleep apnea, and glaucoma.
Please let the Doctor and patient decide what course of treament is best. Patients are suffering and dying with needless pain and agony, while others suffer from the toxic medication they have to take. Just listen to any current advertisement for medication and the littany of side effects.
Our beautiful Florida has the dubious honor of having the nations harshest marijuana possession laws. We have a trafficking standard 4 times as tough as the Federal govermment’s.
13 states have active medical marijuana laws and 14 more states have pending medical marijuana legislation.
This natural plant is not the demon it was presented to be back in the days when Hemp was used to make cloth and rope here in the U.S. Current medications have so many side effects that you have to take more medications to offset those side effects. Marijuana does not have effect, and there has never in the history of man been a death caused strictly from the use of marijuana. To overdose a person would have to ingest 1,500 pounds of marijuana within 15 minutes.
I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, but I am a disabled combat veteran who has been prescribed multiple toxic medications. I chose to live a holistic natural life and these meds are detrimental to that attempt.
In conclusion I beg that you introduce and support a medical marijuana law in the State of Florida and help to decriminalize simple possession of an ounce or less by otherwise law abiding citizens.
Prohibition isn’t working it is just ruining lives and wasting tax dollars. I thank you for your time.
The response…
September 22, 2009
Thank you for sharing your opinion with the Governor. Governor Crist forwarded your letter to me for response. I am Chief of Staff for the Florida Office of Drug Control.
Ms. Gulow, thank you for your service to our country, it is greatly appreciated. Please consult a specialist regarding your physical problems, I am certain there is a legal medication that can help you.
Marijuana is illegal because it is dangerous. Research has proven that marijuana use can be harmful; there are two major risks: respiratory disease and accidental injuries due to impairment. The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences scientific data indicate smoked marijuana is a crude tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) delivery system which also delivers harmful substances, therefore is not recommended for medical use.
Research from the National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug Information states that all forms of marijuana are mind-altering; they change how the brain works. They also contain more than 400 other chemicals. Users suffer negative effects from marijuana. They may suffer sudden feelings of anxiety and have paranoid thoughts.
Florida law states:….”it is unlawful for any person to sell, manufacture, or deliver, or possess with intent to sell, manufacture, or deliver, a controlled substance. The Florida sentencing guidelines are based on this chapter and vary according to the amount of the controlled substance possessed.” Marijuana is illegal and dangerous.
Thank you again for sharing your opinion with Governor Crist.
Sincerely,
Andrew J. Benard
Chief of Staff
Florida Office of Drug Control
AJB/pl
Mr420 that is not ignorance, that is dollars and bodies for new prisons to provide beautification for our FL highways.
“Thank you again for sharing your opinion with Governor Crist.”
Your DNA has now been taken from the glue on this envelope. Have a nice day.
FUCCCCKKKKKKKK!!! im moving out of florida as soon as i can! how can u argue with ignorance like that? and now another HYPOCRITICAL(former rec. toker) LIEING LOONY is running for the senate idk what 2 do..now he has real power in what happends! please any florida voters do not elect this man 2 our senate! we need someone who atleast will listen 2 the facts!