Pubdate: Tue, 16 Jan 2001
Source: Arcata Eye (US CA)
Copyright: 2001, Arcata Eye
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/1210
Website: http://www.arcataeye.com/
Author: Daniel Mintz
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

NEW ARCATA MEDICAL CANNABIS CLINIC OPEN

Those seeking to treat medical conditions with marijuana often face a
conundrum: since their medication is considered a controlled substance
with a stigmatized history, it can be difficult to obtain it safely,
easily and affordably.

Arcata is unusual and has drawn national attention for its pro-active
approach to the issue and about four weeks ago, the City's second
medical cannabis distribution center opened. Describing itself as a
patient-centered facility The Humboldt Patient Resource Center, 980
Sixth St now serves 77 clients, and is growing by about three or four
clients per day. The center's location - in the old Isackson's Ford
building, is just a block away from the Humboldt Medical Cannabis Center
at Sixth and H streets, in the old Angelo's Pizza building.

Dennis Turner, HPRC's executive director, holds a social science
Master's Degree and has done a variety of consulting work at all levels
of government and for non-profit agencies. He views the center as a full
service, professional medical facility, and wants to see it evolve into
"a respected and recognized medical service delivery organization that
just happens to provide medical marijuana."

His vision for the center is part of a larger and history making change
in how marijuana is viewed by the public. Proposition 215 or the
Compassionate Use Act passed overwhelmingly in 1996 and numerous studies
-those commissioned by the Federal Government - has affirmed marijuana's
medicinal values. The role of cannabis in patient care, once a question
mark, is now legally and clinically established.

Enter the Patient Resource Center, which Turner characterizes as a"
pro-social, proactive, pro-law enforcement organization."

'The center is structured as a medical facility; patients receive
medication but also case management, as medication amounts are gauged on
a case by case basis according to need and budget. The center is also a
grower of medical marijuana, and so is able to provide caregiving
quickly and affordably.

Medical marijuana distributions still a relatively new and continually
evolving phenomenon. Here's how it's done, in accordance with state law:
after the center verifies that a patient has a doctor's recommendation
to use marijuana and is a California resident, an application is filled
out and an intake specialist conducts an interview to determine
treatment amounts.

Once deemed eligible, a patient is immediately given a quarter-ounce of
the center's top-grade marijuana at no cost, and is given a
quarter-ounce every two weeks for two months (the time it takes to grow
medication for a single client).

Patients can continue to receive free meds if their needs are a
half-ounce or less per month. They can choose to remunerate (the legal
term for purchasing medication) if they need greater amounts, with the
dosage set according to their budgets and the nature of their
conditions. The center offers eighth-ounce bags of marijuana ranging
from $24.50 to $38.50. Medication is free to hospice and terminally ill
patients.

Turner said the center grow own medicine based on its number of clients.
That allows for quality control, ensures that the meds are grown without
toxins and keeps costs down.

The District Attorney's Office has set guidelines that allow 10 plants
or two pounds of marijuana per patient at any given time, and the center
sticks by those rules. Turner emphasizes the importance of working in
the context of the greater community, and that includes law enforcement
agencies. The goal is to reinforce medical marijuana's credibility
through dimensional care.

"Instead of running around looking for direction, we're here to help
provide direction," said Turner.  We believe the only way medical
marijuana will work is for professional people to get together and work
with all entities of the community."

The center has three employees besides Turner: an intake specialist, a
registered nurse and a horticulturist.  All except the R.N. are medical
marijuana patients, but the center is a voluntary alcohol- and drug-free
workplace. Turner ultimately wants to bring a Ph.D. counselor on board,
and provide substance abuse prevention services.

Arcata's first distribution facility, the Humboldt Medical Cannabis
Center, is also the nation's first and largest with 1,500 members. It
opened in 1997 shortly after the passage of Prop. 215. Turner said
having two centers in operation is a benefit to patients, as it
virtually guarantees that medicine will be easily available,
continuously. 'If there are shortages, patients suffer" he continued.
"We felt we'd be an addition, an auxiliary source. In effect, we're not
competition, we're just another outfit trying to be helpful."

Corey Ross, the Humboldt Patient Resource Center's horticulturist,
addresses his job with a patient's understanding. "Me and other patients
feel we finally have a place that deals not only with our medical needs,
but also our social needs," he said. "This is true compassion."

The feds raided and shut down an Oakland cannabis center about two years
ago and its appeal case is being heard by the Supreme Court. A ruling is
expected in June and will set legal precedents for medical cannabis
distribution.

Though the future track of centers like Turner's will be molded by court
decisions, Turner believes medical cannabis will continue to gain
credibility and acceptance - if it exists in a professional context.

"We are providing fully professional case management to our patients,"
he said, "and I believe that makes us the changing face of medical
marijuana programs today."

MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk