Pubdate: Thu, 23 Oct 2003
Source: Las Vegas City Life (NV)
Copyright: 2003sLas Vegas City Life
Contact:  http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1653
Author: Mike Zigler
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

MEDICINE MAN: PIERRE WERNER CONTINUES HIS QUEST TO IMPROVE NEVADA'S MEDICAL 
MARIJUANA PROGRAM

Pierre Werner knows marijuana. He knows how to grow it, clone it, smoke it, 
vaporize it and provide it to marijuana patients.

Werner, who is bipolar, is a registered patient in the Department of 
Agriculture's medical marijuana program. The Las Vegan has medically used 
cannabis for 10 years, three of which were legal.

Ever since voters approved medical marijuana use in 2000, Werner has sought 
to follow the lead of California's cannabis (or compassion) clubs. He 
started Primary Caregivers and Consultants in 2001, as a way for Nevada 
patients to safely access a legal medicine that the state recognizes yet 
doesn't provide.

Werner's referral service is the only one in Nevada that offers 
physician-approved recommendations for medical marijuana use.

The Department of Agriculture issues licenses to use medical marijuana, 
allowing patients to possess up to one ounce and grow their own. However, 
the department seems to be secretive about the program, Werner said.

On the DOA's official website, no information about the medical marijuana 
program exists. The department also doesn't conduct research on the 
program's patients.

Werner's main complaint with the medical marijuana program is intimidation 
by the federal government. Referencing the body's tolerance to opiates 
compared to marijuana, Werner said the state has an opportunity to conduct 
some serious research on medical marijuana patients -- such as addiction, 
dangers and benefits.

"This is certainly a failed opportunity to provide even anecdotal evidence 
to the benefits of medical marijuana," Werner said.

Jennifer Bartlett, program manager of the state's medical marijuana 
program, noted that while her offices have no plans to conduct a study, the 
University of Nevada, Reno likely will. However, the federal government 
discourages such studies.

Furthermore, regulation is easy to manipulate, Werner said. Since the 
program is confidential and oversight is limited, patients might forge a 
doctor's signature to gain entry into the program.

This is where Werner's business comes in. He refers qualified patients to 
doctors, unofficially helps regulate the program, and plans to conduct and 
publish studies.

"I don't know much about Pierre's business, but I do know he has referred a 
lot of people in the direction they need to take," Bartlett said.

Due to the program's relative newness, Bartlett said information is not yet 
available online. However, her office is working on a related project.

Bartlett noted that the toughest hurdle patients must still leap is 
locating medical marijuana.

"The Department of Agriculture cannot help patients find it or a doctor to 
refer it," Bartlett said. "They are on their own."

Werner thinks the Department of Agriculture could deputize medical 
marijuana providers in the same manner as California. He also notes that no 
law prohibits the department from recommending a referral service.

Until his company expands into a compassion club (likely next summer), 
Werner will focus on doctor referrals. Over the last six months, he has 
reorganized and refocused his company. Cautious, he has moved offices, 
branched out to increase plant growth and even became an ordained minister 
in the Universal Life Church.

"For reverends in the church of life, we use cannabis as the blessed 
sacrament," Werner explained, noting that he looks to open the club under 
the Hawaii Cannabis Ministry (which helps groups legally use marijuana 
religiously).

As a consultant, Werner checks medical records to ensure potential patients 
have a legitimate condition. He also verifies identification, registers 
qualifying patients with the Department of Agriculture, and introduces them 
to his doctor -- one of 151 in the state who've recommended marijuana. The 
complete package costs $250 and annual renewals are $200.

Werner's doctor, who requested anonymity, was initially unwilling to 
recommend medical marijuana. But the doctor thought of his patients, who 
suffer even with prescription drugs. Some have no true way to avoid pain, 
except by smoking marijuana.

Also, most prescription pain relievers are opiates, which are highly 
addictive. After about a week, the body's tolerance to opiates builds, 
making increased dosages necessary to ease pain, the doctor said. With 
medical marijuana, dramatically increasing intake isn't necessary.

"I was reluctant to even do this," said the doctor. "I checked into it and 
there was nothing illegal. I figured if the program is set up and monitored 
through the Department of Agriculture, then I should make it available to 
the patients."

To date, Werner's doctor has only taken severe cases -- Lupus, AIDS, 
cancer, amputees, glaucoma and other such medical conditions. The doctor 
said other physicians are likely reluctant to recommend the drug out of 
fear of losing their license.

But the number of doctors recommending marijuana may soon increase. The 
U.S. Supreme Court decided Oct. 14 not to formally consider a Bush 
administration request to allow feds to punish physicians who recommend 
marijuana.

Of the 40 marijuana patients the doctor advises, all but two or three were 
Werner's referrals.

Despite how quickly the state's program may develop, a compassion club is 
needed, Werner said. His business is growing, and he alone can't supply 
medicine to the increasing number of marijuana patients.

So far, 330 patients have registered with the state of Nevada. They are 
allowed to grow up to seven plants each; however, some are not physically 
able to. Also, growing doesn't always produce results. This means patients 
typically turn to the streets for their medicine.

Until the club opens, Werner -- who can be contacted at 702-328-4420 -- 
plans to continue his referral business. No matter what, he said his 
purpose will always remain the same: to make it safe and easy for patients 
to get medical marijuana.

"I've known the plant all my life," Werner said. "This is the perfect 
business for me as far as I'm concerned."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager