Pubdate: Mon, 22 Mar 2010
Source: Technician, The (NC State U, NC Edu)
Copyright: 2010 The Technician
Contact:  http://technicianonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2268
Author: Sam Daughtry, Staff Columnist

MEDICAL MARIJUANA: A PERSONAL DECISION

Medical Marijuana. You may have heard the term, and many states are
amending laws changing the face of what federal administrators deemed
an illegal and harmful drug. Some states currently have programs that
allow patients with a doctor's order to purchase and use medical marijuana.

The debate continues and may prove to be a leading contributor in how
health care reform and public policy is rewritten.

While states allow medical marijuana, its usage, possession and
paraphernalia still violate federal law. This battle in states' rights
versus federal law creates a new war of federalism with a possible
Supreme Court case written all over it. One of the major criticisms of
cannabis as medicine is opposition to smoking as a method of
consumption. The harm caused by smoking can be minimized or eliminated
by the use of a vaporizer.

But these devices are becoming more regulated for import into the
United States. This is like saying a diabetes patient could have
insulin but not the needles required to inject the medication.

A reason this is a vital discussion point?

A worker in Michigan was recently fired from his job for testing
positive for drug use -- medical marijuana. The employee was being
treated by his physician for sinus cancer and an inoperable brain
tumor pressing against his skull.

The irony is that his employer knew that he was under doctor's care
for medical marijuana but after a random drug test he tested positive
and was fired immediately. The company maintained a drug free
workplace policy and said that was the reason the employee was fired.

Another problem is that medical marijuana already exists in our
nation's pharmacies. It's called Marinol, Sativex or Nabilone. It
comes in the form of a pill and contains the same active ingredient,
THC. It is legal with a valid prescription for many cancer and AIDS
patients all over the U.S. However, there is no label on the bottle
that reads, "Warning, May Result In Getting You Fired."

The term recreational drug is about to be redefined --
again.

Prescription drug abuse is an ongoing problem.

One reason for this is the stigma of possession of marijuana and the
paraphernalia associated with its use. So while marijuana has been
labeled as recreational, it may soon change to become a legal
prescription. Medical marijuana users may have to heavily rely upon
drug masking agents so that they may pass employment tests, keeping
their employer's medical benefits.

Here is a question to ponder: it is currently illegal to smoke tobacco
within so many feet of campus buildings.

But what rights does one have when it comes to a doctors order;
especially medical marijuana and perhaps with a suggested vaporizer.

A paradox is adhering to doctors' orders while maintaining a drug free
campus.

Lets up the ante. What if a student or employee had a prescription for
Marinol while on campus?

Needless to say the legality would be tricky.

But we could find lawyers for both sides ready to argue. Furthermore,
what about NCAA athletics rules?

It is doubtful a cancer patient would be participating in our
athletics program.

But let's take a step back and consider the late Kay Yow. Her fight
against cancer was a tough battle.

Perhaps she had to take medications equivalent to Merinol. What if for
some ridiculous reason she was fired from her job for following
doctors' orders?

I would be outraged and I am sure many other cancer survivors would be
too.

Medical marijuana is a personal decision for any American; the
argument today is more than its usage.

It's about the future of medication screenings, states' rights and
corporations that fail to recognize local laws. This is one reason why
federal government gets too large.

It's large corporations that require monitoring by federal agencies so
that they play fair in adhering to equality of law.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake