The Editorial Board is pretty straight-laced, no matter the preconceptions people have of college newspaper editors.
We’re not the crazy, liberal hippies some people make us out to be.
Now that we put this disclaimer out there, we can approve of the proposed state constitution amendment to legalize medical marijuana. Although most people are doubtful the proposed change will make it to the ballots in November 2012, we’re not seeing a viable argument against the amendment.
The author of the bill, state Rep. Jeff Clemens, has pointed to Florida’s notoriety as a giant pill mill to argue for legalizing the drug for medical use.
The dangers of addiction to painkillers such as oxycodone are undeniable, and the idea of a safer alternative to soothe pain for terminally ill patients is appealing in a state with a large senior citizen population.
Obviously we don’t want people to drive or operate heavy machinery after using marijuana, but we don’t want those who have taken legal painkillers or alcohol to do those things, either.
Beyond the medical benefits of treating patients with a nonaddictive drug, we also imagine the state would get an economic boost from regulating and taxing it. We’re having a tough time seeing the downside.
Clemens makes a good point, but it will probably go unheeded by the Republican-controlled House and Senate.
