Pubdate: Sat, 21 May 2011
Source: Morning Sentinel (Waterville, ME)
Copyright: 2011 MaineToday Media, Inc.
Contact: 
http://www.onlinesentinel.com/readerservices/Send_a_Letter_to_the_Editor-MS.html
Website: http://www.onlinesentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1474
Author: Dennis Prevost

UNINTENDED COMPLICATIONS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW

Maine has finally legalized marijuana for medical purposes but not 
without complications that weren't intended when it was voted upon.

There is a lot of confusion for the young and especially the elderly 
who voted for it and use it.

Lawmakers in Augusta, who have absolutely no medical knowledge or 
even any type of schooling in medicine, are the ones who are calling 
the shots and making the rules, which is totally unacceptable. 
Doctors and pharmacists ought to be the ones who decide who would 
benefit from it or who can possess it, not Department of Human Services.

If a person who cannot afford $75 to obtain a card gets caught eating 
or smoking it, a fine is imposed. If the person cannot afford to pay 
the fine, then taxpayers pay to house you in jail.

Doctor and patient confidentiality no longer exists and DHS can turn 
you down and keep your $75. They are the ones who decide if you need 
the medicine, not your doctor.

It is time for everybody to get out of the way of the doctors and 
allow them to do the job that they were trained to do. After all, 
they did spend long hours and lots of money in their field, and so 
let's move over and allow them to decide.

These lawmakers don't go to DHS for an engine tune-up, and so why 
should a patient go to DHS for a card. The medical records will speak 
for themselves if needed in court.

Dennis Prevost

Skowhegan 
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart