Pot Law Would Legitimize Drug Dealers, Opponents Say

Should medical marijuana be legalized in the state of Florida?

That’s the question voters will have to answer in November as the question comes up on the ballot in the form of Amendment 2.  Opponents of the ballot measure have gained some ground in recent days with casino mogul Sheldon Adelson pledging $2.5 million toward the cause to keep pot out of medical treatments.

Even with the financial shot in the arm, the Tampa Bay Times is pointing out one of the group’s claims isn’t holding up well to scrutiny.

Vote No On 2 has been touting a number of loopholes in the proposed amendment that it says should make Floridians think twice about legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. One such claim is that the amendment would enable just about anyone to get licensed to serve as a caregiver for patients prescribed pot. The Drug Dealer Loophole, as Vote No On 2 is calling it, “allows so-called ‘caregivers’ to dispense medical pot. Caregivers do not need medical training. They can be felons – even drug dealers,” the organization’s website claims.

PolitiFact Florida recently looked into that claim. While it says it’s too early to run the claim through the Truth-O-Meter, it noted that the state’s Department of Health would be responsible for writing regulations if Amendment 2 passes. Since the state will have six months to write its rules, it’s just too early to say how tough it will be to get licensing to be a caregiver.

Amendment 2 requires 60 percent of Florida voters’ approval to pass in the Nov. 4 election. If it’s approved, Florida would become the 21st state to allow marijuana use for medical reasons, the Miami Herald points out. Polls are showing the proposal is a popular one with Florida voters.

What are your thoughts on legalizing medical marijuana? Should it happen in Florida? Tell us by commenting below!