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Florida's Lone Legal Pot Smoker Would Love Company
Posted by CN Staff on February 03, 2014 at 17:03:37 PT
By Michael Mayo, Sun Sentinel Columnist
Source: Sun-Sentinel
Florida -- Now that the Florida Supreme Court has cleared the way for voters to decide the fate of medical marijuana in November, I called Florida's only legal pot smoker for his toke, uh, I mean take."We're in for a tough battle," said Irvin Rosenfeld, 60, a Fort Lauderdale stockbroker with a rare bone-tumor disease. Rosenfeld gets pot from the federal government as part of a little-known experimental treatment program. After 31 years and 130,000 joints, he calls himself "living proof" that medical marijuana works.
Even though polls show overwhelming support for the amendment, Rosenfeld said that negative ads from well-funded opposition groups and voter apathy could erode support below the 60 percent threshold needed for approval in November.In other states where marijuana ballot initiatives passed, he said huge early support typically dwindled to the 55 percent range at the polls. That won't cut it in Florida, where a supermajority is needed to change the state constitution."A lot of people who say they're in favor of it just don't bother to vote," Rosenfeld said Friday.Or they don't remember when Election Day is.(OK, I know that's a cheap pot-smoker joke. And speaking of pot jokes, here's one from Rosenfeld: "You know the difference between a drunk driver and a stoned driver? A drunk driver blows straight through the stop sign. The driver on pot waits for the stop sign to turn green.")Rosenfeld and I are on the same page supporting the medical-marijuana initiative. And we both think it's a shame this had to go the citizen petition/constitutional amendment route because of an out-of-touch Legislature.I figured high-powered Orlando attorney John Morgan and his group that spearheaded the successful petition drive, United for Care, would be all over Rosenfeld's story and use him as Exhibit A in the upcoming fight. Given his expertise and eloquence, Rosenfeld would seemingly make an excellent face for the campaign, perfect for TV ads.Rosenfeld said he's scheduled to have a conference call with United for Care campaign director Ben Pollara on Tuesday.If Rosenfeld could tape a 60-second ad, what would his message be? He said the script could go something like this:"When it comes to the benefits of medical cannabis, nobody knows them better than myself. Hi, I'm Florida resident Irvin Rosenfeld. When I was 10, I was diagnosed with a painful, chronic bone-tumor disease — multiple congenital cartilaginous exostosis. Doctors didn't know if I'd survive my teen years.Since 1982, the federal government has given me marijuana through its Compassionate Investigational New Drug Program. My medicine doesn't get me high, it brings me relief. I've smoked cannabis every day for the last 31 years, and I'm in great shape. I'm able to hold a job and be a productive member of society.I'm 60 now, and I say it's time other ailing Floridians get the same chance as me. It shouldn't be a crime for people with cancer, glaucoma, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis to willingly use medical marijuana when their doctors decide it's right. This Election Day, just say yes on Amendment 2. Let's give sick Floridians a better choice."Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel (FL)Author: Michael Mayo, Sun Sentinel ColumnistPublished: February 3, 2014Copyright: 2014 South Florida Sun-SentinelContact: http://drugsense.org/url/mVLAxQfAWebsite: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/XIl7HQKVCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on February 05, 2014 at 11:56:48 PT
Storm Crow
Thank you so much for the link and everything you do!
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on February 05, 2014 at 11:55:53 PT
Gravis Poll Shows Roadmap To Kill MMJ Plan
Gravis Poll Shows Roadmap To Kill Medical Marijuana Plan: Talk about Kids and FelonsURL: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2014/02/gravis-poll-shows-roadmap-to-kill-medical-marijuana-plan-talk-about-kids-and-felons.html
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Comment #6 posted by Storm Crow on February 04, 2014 at 10:46:33 PT
On that suicide study- 
Hi FOM, I have an earlier, full version of the study on suicide. Just thought you folks might like to read it in full- High on Life? Medical Marijuana Laws and Suicide   (full – 2012) http://ftp.iza.org/dp6280.pdf 
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Comment #5 posted by Hope on February 04, 2014 at 06:47:51 PT
Without a doubt he would still be here.
One of the movies he did such a bang up job with, was on TV just the other evening. Capote. Might I add, the inimitable Capote. But Hoffman captured his essence. Not an essence easily captured. He was, no doubt, very good at what he did. 
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Comment #4 posted by runruff on February 04, 2014 at 05:21:55 PT
 "...he would still be alive."
Indubitably!
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on February 03, 2014 at 20:25:59 PT
Universer
Maybe if that famous actor had smoked cannabis instead of doing heroin he would still be alive.
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Comment #2 posted by Universer on February 03, 2014 at 20:17:16 PT
FoM: Great Find!
This article needs to be posted everywhere!The only nit I have to pick is a minor semantic issue with the use of the word "negative" in "negative relationship between legalization and suicides" when the word "inverse" is more correct.Still, I say: Get this one out there! FB that mofo!
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on February 03, 2014 at 18:45:35 PT
Medical Marijuana Cuts Suicide Rates By 10%
Medical Marijuana Cuts Suicide Rates By 10% In Years Following LegalizationFebruary 3, 2014Legalization of medical marijuana has been found to correlate to a significant drop in suicide rates, providing additional evidence that the federally outlawed substance may have a positive effect on U.S. public health.The new study, which is published in the American Journal of Public Health, shows that the suicide rate among men ages 20 to 29 and 30 to 39 fell by 10.8 percent and 9.8 percent respectively following a given state’s decision to legalize medical marijuana. Although the relationship was weaker and less precise among women, the authors believe that the findings provide strong evidence in favor of medical cannabis. “The negative relationship between legalization and suicides among young men is consistent with the hypothesis that marijuana can be used to cope with stressful life events,” they wrote.Complete Article: http://www.medicaldaily.com/medical-marijuana-cuts-suicide-rates-10-years-following-legalization-268472
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