LET PEOPLE VOTE ON MARIJUANA

The debate over whether marijuana should be legalized for medical
purposes is complex, so let's have that debate - for real.

An Orlando-based organization, People United for Medical Marijuana, is
trying to gather the 676,811 signatures of registered voters it will
need to get the issue on the general election ballot in November 2012.
If approved by the required 60 percent of voters, the constitutional
amendment would give Floridians the right to grow, purchase, possess
and obtain marijuana for medical treatment.

We're not sure legalizing pot for medicinal purposes is right, but we
believe it should go on the ballot. That will focus the debate and
give the people the chance to decide an issue lawmakers are likely to
play it safe on, without a fair hearing. It's a good referendum issue.

Fourteen states have legalized medical marijuana in the past 14 years,
and four more have marijuana issues on the ballot Tuesday. Medical
marijuana propositions have failed only once, but the challenge in
Florida is harder because of the 60 percent-to-pass
requirement.

Some studies have indicated benefits from cannabis, particularly for
glaucoma and tremors. It can increase appetite and relieve the nausea
that are the side effects of cancer treatments. But major medical
associations do not support its legalization; the scientific support
for cannabis as a prescription medicine is too weak, in their view.

But neither scientific arguments nor backers' claims of enhanced
government revenues from legalization are necessarily the key issues.

Backers need to convince a strong majority of people that the drug can
help some people's suffering, and therefore should be available. They
have a fighting chance. According to a recent ABC News/Washington Post
poll, 81 percent of Americans support legalizing medical marijuana.

Backers also need to answer the fear that legalization for medical
purposes will lead to full-blown legalization. In California, where
medical marijuana is already legal, a vote Tuesday on whether to
legalize it for recreational purposes could have an effect on the
Florida campaign; what kind is anybody's guess.

The News-Press editorial board supports more research to establish
definitively the medicinal value of marijuana, if any, and the
potential for abuse, addiction and other unintended consequences.