Drug Policy Foundation of Florida

Drug Policy Forum of Florida | National/International Organizations

Dear Friends and interested parties,

I have sat and contemplated the Joe and Michael Tacl Trial for many days now, reviewing testimony, the media coverage, our participation and watching the reverb. Trying to measure cause and effect to make some sense of the sense-less.

For those of you who have not heard, Joe and Michael were both found guilty on all charges. Sentencing will take place on Sept. 1, 1999 and both men face over ten years. Attorneys Andy Fine and Gary Wainwright will handle the appeals Pro Bono and all are confident of reversals in the higher courts.

This was a text book case and quite frankly, the thing TV movies are made of. We prepared carefully, had all the right people, all the right circumstances.... the thing we didn't have was thousands of dollars or the right laws (either would have assured an acquittal). The attorneys were exceptional, the patient obviously sick with pain and diseased due to prescription drugs. The eyes of the Nation were all turned to Levy County as we watched the proceedings. Local printed media, in association with the AP, kept the story in the paper statewide daily, local TV aired news segments as far south as Orlando, state wide radio coverage was given by Public Radio FL and Court TV will air the trial in a few weeks.

Surpassingly enough, I find no anger in the verdict in Levy County, only fear. Having known the Tacl's for several years, I know Joe is a medical patient. Under the current law, if he is not safe from this type of persecution, what will become of the rest of us? I feel motivated to educate people on how to act like a patient and that is ridiculous. Under the medical necessity defense, you must prove you have tried ALL other treatments for your condition. Since I have only tried hundreds of the thousands of drugs and treatments for my condition, I have no defense.

MOTIVATED TO ACT

This needs to be the battle cry of Floridians this week and every day until the laws are amended. No one in Florida is safe today. We are receiving calls daily from people who are facing charges and need our help and support. Our legal defense fund is tapped and our staff is overwhelmed. Anyone with compassion must transfer compassion to ACTION. If you have more time then money, give time. If you have no time, then take 5 minutes and write a check each month. The State organization in Florida is very well organized, as seen by our take over of Levy County last week. However, we need more bodies and more funding.

We were not defeated in Levy County by any means. Millions of people were made aware of the plight of patients in Florida. Twenty three patients and activists were in Levy County that week. Each of us are now home, MOTIVATED TO ACTION. We are all working together on behalf of the Bill Whitt, a Broward County man with MS. We will work together to remove certain politicians, pass new laws and collect enough signatures to bring the issue to the voters in 2000 and all the while educate or friends, neighbors and associates.

I admonish you all, if you are not giving all you can to protect the people who are currently going toe to toe with the lawmakers and FDLE; are not giving generously to the local levels and are not actively working to protect the people of your community who are facing unreasonable persecution..... who will stand for you when they come ?