- May 16, 2024
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Meaning no disrespect to Officer Roland Clee, guest writer, and his opinion about marijuana (April 18, "Legalizing marijuana would not be good for Florida"), however it is not possible to overdose from marijuana. To imply that there are more marijuana overdoses annually than American deaths in Vietnam is insulting to those 58,220 who did die there and the hundreds of thousands of us who honorably served there.
Officer Clee has confused marijuana with opioids which killed over 80,000 in 2021 alone. The most common symptoms of marijuana use include anxiety, panic attacks, palpitations, paranoia, and hallucinations. These symptoms result from an excessive level of THC in the bloodstream. While these symptoms can be distressing, they are not life-threatening.
Compared to alcohol and opioids, the risk of fatal overdose with marijuana is negligible. Alcohol and opioid overdoses can cause respiratory depression, leading to death. Opioids, in particular, are highly addictive and can lead to dependence and withdrawal symptoms. Officer Clee references the Daily Mail which is a tabloid newspaper from the United Kingdom. Is that a credible source? My sources are the National Institute of Health and the Center for Disease Control.
Now, I am voting for the marijuana amendment (Amendment 3, Marijuana Legalization Initiative) because our legislators passed a bill to eliminate delta-8, a very low THC/CBD oil. As a disabled veteran, I had a medical marijuana card for a few years and found it expensive and a difficult process. A medical marijuana card costs $75 per year to the state, $150 per doctor visit every 7 months, and expensive CBD/THC oils from authorized providers.
I have since found that delta-8 is not only effective for my pains, it is much less expensive. There is no high from delta-8. This low dose of THC/CBD also helps people with Autism focus and manage their day. What a wonderful benefit, now denied by our legislature.
Michael Stevenson, Lt. Col., USAF, retired
Ormond Beach
