Pubdate: Thu, 17 Jun 2010
Source: Journal Tribune (ME)
Copyright: 2010 Journal Tribune
Contact:  http://www.journaltribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1074
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

AWAITING ANSWERS ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Patients who have long been eligible to benefit from  Maine's medical 
marijuana law are looking forward to  actually obtaining prescribed 
relief, once regional  marijuana dispensaries are able to open 
throughout the  state.

The dispensary system was authorized by voters last  year for 
patients suffering from cancer, glaucoma,  HIV/AIDS and other serious 
ailments. But it appears  that cautious implementation will keep them 
waiting a while longer.

Such delay is both regrettable and inevitable. The  tasks of 
licensing businesses to distribute marijuana,  and issuing local 
permits for clinics to operate, have  required considerable analysis 
and debate. With an  important deadline approaching, it's not clear 
how  licenses will be awarded.

Sanford has been approached by several potential  applicants, but the 
town decided last week to keep a  moratorium in effect while awaiting 
a clearer picture  of how medical marijuana clinics will be regulated 
by  the state. The City Council in Brewer, also deciding it  needed 
more time to review the emerging landscape,  extended its moratorium 
another six months. Moratoriums  are under consideration in many 
other cities and towns  throughout the state.

Sanford's moratorium is set to expire July 20.  Representatives of 
two companies recently visited the  town to lay out preliminary 
proposals for dispensaries  and growing operations. One of them told 
Sanford officials that establishing a regional growing center  and 
dispensary could create a substantial number of  jobs.

Humanitarian and economic arguments aside, potential  operators are 
competing for eight licenses while facing  a time crunch. The state 
deadline for applications is  June 25.

After Sanford's council voted down a proposal to lift  the 
moratorium, chairman Joseph Hanslip said the  situation remains too 
uncertain. "There are too many  unanswered questions, too many 
'likelys' and 'probablys.'" he said.

It's hard to blame either the task force or  municipalities for 
deliberating at length over the  establishment of marijuana 
dispensaries here. The  legitimate concerns of patients, local 
officials and  law enforcement need careful consideration. Recently 
the Maine Civil Liberties Union flagged a new concern -  the 
importance of preserving patient privacy, and  providing due process 
in the issuance or revocation of  patient registration cards.

It's in everyone's interest for the system to be  well-organized, 
appropriately strict and fair. At the  same time, the task force and 
local officials should be  mindful of a patient's perspective: Every 
day of delay  is a day of pain relief postponed.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom