Pubdate: Sun, 11 Oct 2009
Source: Napa Valley Register (CA)
Copyright: 2009 Lee Enterprises
Contact:  http://www.napavalleyregister.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/736
Author: Lee Hamilton

MEDICAL MARIJUANA NOT FOR EVERYONE

Dear editor, The most important criteria for obtaining a doctor's
recommendation for cannabis use is having the money to pay for the
doctor visit. Individuals with mental illnesses will use this
essentially unfettered access to marijuana recommendations to their
detriment. Cannabis use may be benign for most of the population; this
is not the case for people with schizophrenia.

Marijuana causes increased psychosis and paranoia ("Cannabis use and
risk of psychotic or affective mental health outcomes: A systematic
review," Lancet 370: p. 319-328, 2007). While a pot club may provide
additional revenue to Napa, I hope that the county mental health
clinic will be given additional revenue to cope with the additional
impaired patients in crisis.

Lee Hamilton, psychiatrist / Napa 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D