Message sent to Florida House Representative Darryl Rouson on May 4, 2010 @ 10:04 a.m.
While I do appreciate the severity of our current legislation regarding marijuana, I can not condone nor support this bill that is clearly aimed at securing more funding for our criminal justice system. Too many law abiding citizens have been needlessly labelled as a criminal, solely on the merit of our choice for recreational drug use. Sadly, too many Americans feel that it is better to use "legal" drugs in order to alter their perceptions. I refuse to become an alcoholic like my father. i have seen too many women and children being abused by these "average Joe's" because our current society says alcohol is socially acceptable, while marijuana is not. Both of my grandfathers, my father, my sister, and quite a few of my wife's family are alcoholics. Anyone that has had a loved one suffering this affliction can attest to it's despicable charachter traits. I for one will not be voting for politicians that refuse to listen to their constituents. Furthermore, I will from this day forward, be writing to all of my elected officials and will be warning them of my future voting practices. It is time to stop listening to the pharmaceutical lobbyists and the oil company lobbyists. Marijuana and Hemp are the "miracle" plant that this country needs, no more spilled oil in the Gulf, no more denying farmers of this cash crop. Too many benefits, not enough cons. Why do we hear conflicting evidence that states benefits and health problems from using marijuana? Why is Marijuana classified a Schedule 1 drug, which defines it as having "no medicinal value" whatsoever, while Marinol has been prescribed for over ten years? Maybe the pharmaceutical companies think it's ok to charge exorbitant amounts of money for essentially the same drug I could grow at home for free. Wise up America, or this recession will only get worse.
Message sent to Sate Representatives and Governor, as well as President Barack Obama
I'm writing to urge your support for common sense marijuana law reform.
Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank, along with co-sponsor Texas Republican Ron Paul, has introduced legislation to limit the federal government's authority to arrest and prosecute minor marijuana offenders.
The measure, entitled an "Act to Remove Federal Penalties for Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults," would remove federal sanctions for minor marijuana offenses - making the prosecutions of these offenses strictly a state matter.
Otherwise law-abiding citizens who use marijuana responsibly are not part of the crime problem, and we must stop treating them like criminals under federal law. According to nationwide polls, three out of four voters agree that adults who possess marijuana should not face arrest or jail, and one out of two now believe that cannabis should be regulated like alcohol.
Once again, I urge you to support the passage of this act, and I hope that you will consider co-sponsoring this important legislation. Remember, voters will worry about your sincerity regarding these extremely important issues. Reelection is never guaranteed.
Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank, along with co-sponsor Texas Republican Ron Paul, has introduced legislation to limit the federal government's authority to arrest and prosecute minor marijuana offenders.
The measure, entitled an "Act to Remove Federal Penalties for Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults," would remove federal sanctions for minor marijuana offenses - making the prosecutions of these offenses strictly a state matter.
Otherwise law-abiding citizens who use marijuana responsibly are not part of the crime problem, and we must stop treating them like criminals under federal law. According to nationwide polls, three out of four voters agree that adults who possess marijuana should not face arrest or jail, and one out of two now believe that cannabis should be regulated like alcohol.
Once again, I urge you to support the passage of this act, and I hope that you will consider co-sponsoring this important legislation. Remember, voters will worry about your sincerity regarding these extremely important issues. Reelection is never guaranteed.
Message recieved on Wed. May 12,2010 From Peggy Lawson Executive Assistant to the Director Office of Drug Control
Dear Mr. Seitz:
Governor Crist received your email and forwarded it to me for a response. I am the Director of the Florida Office of Drug Control. First, thank you for expressing your opinion to our Governor.
It is important to understand that our federal and state drug control policies have one overarching goal: to reduce and, if possible, eliminate the use of illicit drugs like marijuana. Establishing a taxed and regulated legal market for adult marijuana users would not advance the goal of our drug policies. First, legal access to marijuana would likely result in steep usage rate increases. Our experience with alcohol and tobacco has taught us that commercial interests weaken sensible regulatory efforts. A legal marijuana industry would employ promotion, advertising, and lobbying to increase demand while maintaining prices well below their current black market levels. Stimulating demand while lowering prices would undoubtedly lead to both increases in the number of Americans that use marijuana as well as the intensity with which they use it.I am very concerned about the health and wellbeing of Florida citizens. The deaths caused each year by alcohol and tobacco represent a major cost to society that is in no way offset by the tax revenue generated by the sales of these substances. Furthermore, I do not believe that the adverse consequences of marijuana use (respiratory diseases, traffic fatalities, poor school performance, dependence, etc.) could ever offset the potential tax revenue it might generate.
Any policy change that results in an increase in marijuana use, particularly among youth, is unacceptable. Cannabis use has acute effects on attention and memory, something that constitutes a particular problem for adolescents still in school and perhaps contemplating a collegiate future. Furthermore, marijuana use impairs judgment and motor skills, posing a serious risk of automobile accidents. It is also estimated that about 10% of marijuana users eventually become dependent on it. By enforcing policies that suppress the use of addictive drugs like marijuana, we are affirming our ultimate respect for freedom and liberty by ensuring that fewer Americans get trapped into a life of addiction.
Finally, please be aware that federal and Florida laws prohibit “medical marijuana” because an expert review of the evidence conducted by the Institute of Medicine concluded that “Smoked marijuana…is a crude THC delivery system that also delivers harmful substances…[and] cannot be expected to provide a precisely defined drug effect. For those reasons there is little future in smoked marijuana as a medically approved medication.” Safer and scientifically proven drugs exist for all of the medical conditions that marijuana is erroneously thought to treat.
Again, thank you for your correspondence to Governor Crist.
Sincerely,
Bruce D. Grant
Director
Florida Office of Drug Control
Governor Crist received your email and forwarded it to me for a response. I am the Director of the Florida Office of Drug Control. First, thank you for expressing your opinion to our Governor.
It is important to understand that our federal and state drug control policies have one overarching goal: to reduce and, if possible, eliminate the use of illicit drugs like marijuana. Establishing a taxed and regulated legal market for adult marijuana users would not advance the goal of our drug policies. First, legal access to marijuana would likely result in steep usage rate increases. Our experience with alcohol and tobacco has taught us that commercial interests weaken sensible regulatory efforts. A legal marijuana industry would employ promotion, advertising, and lobbying to increase demand while maintaining prices well below their current black market levels. Stimulating demand while lowering prices would undoubtedly lead to both increases in the number of Americans that use marijuana as well as the intensity with which they use it.I am very concerned about the health and wellbeing of Florida citizens. The deaths caused each year by alcohol and tobacco represent a major cost to society that is in no way offset by the tax revenue generated by the sales of these substances. Furthermore, I do not believe that the adverse consequences of marijuana use (respiratory diseases, traffic fatalities, poor school performance, dependence, etc.) could ever offset the potential tax revenue it might generate.
Any policy change that results in an increase in marijuana use, particularly among youth, is unacceptable. Cannabis use has acute effects on attention and memory, something that constitutes a particular problem for adolescents still in school and perhaps contemplating a collegiate future. Furthermore, marijuana use impairs judgment and motor skills, posing a serious risk of automobile accidents. It is also estimated that about 10% of marijuana users eventually become dependent on it. By enforcing policies that suppress the use of addictive drugs like marijuana, we are affirming our ultimate respect for freedom and liberty by ensuring that fewer Americans get trapped into a life of addiction.
Finally, please be aware that federal and Florida laws prohibit “medical marijuana” because an expert review of the evidence conducted by the Institute of Medicine concluded that “Smoked marijuana…is a crude THC delivery system that also delivers harmful substances…[and] cannot be expected to provide a precisely defined drug effect. For those reasons there is little future in smoked marijuana as a medically approved medication.” Safer and scientifically proven drugs exist for all of the medical conditions that marijuana is erroneously thought to treat.
Again, thank you for your correspondence to Governor Crist.
Sincerely,
Bruce D. Grant
Director
Florida Office of Drug Control
My response to Bruce D. Grant is as follows on May 14,2010 @ 10:37 a.m.
Wow, it seems ironic that I took the time to write Governor Charlie Crist a letter is regards to the MAJORITIES viewpoint on this "War on Ourselves". Why does he feel the need to have someoneelse respond for him? Did I vote you into office? No, you were appointed to your office by a man that cannot even take some of his precious time in order to write back to me. I would also like to tell you sir that I do not believe that you wrote this response either. Considering I have already read this response and it was from a different states Office of Drug Control, I do not believe that you have even given a moments thought on my letter, let alone the impact that your antiquated laws have on our states residents. You sir are a shyster, you are taking our money and not doing your job. Shame on you. I sincerely hope that you read this, because I will be posting this and your "response" on my website, and I will not be voting for Charlie Crist again. Maybe one day the reformists will stop hiding in fear and stand up for what we believe in, then you guys might actually have to work for a living. Again, SHAME ON YOU!! Sincerely, a disgruntled resident of Florida, Peter James Seitz
Message sent to Fl. Senator George Lemieux on May 9 2010 @ 1:00 pm
This is the second letter that I am sending you in reference to this ridiculous waste of taxpayers money. Without using sarcasm I am going to try to inform you of my, and my many acquaintances' opinions on this subjuect. Senate Bill 366 is actually going in the wrong direction in regards to the rest of the country. 14 states have passed legislation allowing medical marijuana, and in case you haven't bothered to read up on this issue, our own country's capital has medical marijuana laws. Too many politicians have been hiding behind outdated and propagated laws that were enacted in the early 20th century. It is now the 21st century and the have nots are starting to outnumber the haves. I would suggest that all politicians (that require residents to vote for them in order to get a paycheck) start listening to the majority of residents and stop allowing the pharmacuetical lobbyists from pulling the wool over your eyes. I for one will not be voting for you in the next election race. I have sent you a letter previously about other issues and I recieved a response written by someone else. I feel as though you couldn't be bothered to take the time to write to me, as I did to you. Hopefully, you will return this letter with your own voice, not some intern. By the way, I DID NOT sign up for your newsletter, and do not appreciate getting SPAM mail from a SENATOR. This is something I expect from a corrupt individual, oh yeah, you are a politician, what was I thinking?
No one in America should have to live without the benefits of a job. Careers are hard to come by, least of all a career that you enjoy. Without the basic independence that a job creates within our own minds, I find it difficult to believe that anyone who struggles to keep their head above water will not benefit from a good career. Too many American children are hungry, underprivileged, barely clothed, and facing problems unheard of in this country just a few decades ago. When does depression affect these children? Besides focusing on the abuse, of which there is definitely too much, adult depression has a severe impact on many children. The simple act of finding a job and spending time outside of the home is wonderful for the mental well being of us all. We need help in this country, when will these problems become more important to our politicians? A bill that will require our wonderful state of Florida to pay for the housing, feeding. and healthcare of normal lawabiding citizens, simply because Rep. Poulson feels it is more important to get these "paraphenalia dealers" off the streets and away from our children. Where is this extra funding from jailing and housing to code enforcement going to come from? Let's cut school funding in order to pay the offset of this new bill, I mean Florida's school system is only ranked 49th, and our judicial budget is in the top 20. How's that for fair and equal budgeting? Where are our priorities? The welfare of our citizens, or the views of the "outside world" on our little "dong" shaped state?
