Pubdate: Wed, 07 Dec 2011 Source: Record, The (Stockton, CA) Copyright: 2011 The Record Contact: http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=A_OPINION05 Website: http://www.recordnet.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/428 Author: Gary Armstrong POT DOCS NEED TO FOLLOW STANDARDS In his Nov. 4 letter, "Clearing the air on Marijuana," Dr. George M. Khoury, president of the San Joaquin Medical Society, didn't clear the air with his justification by the San Joaquin Medical Society on CMA's adopted policy; they created a purple haze instead. The doctors who recommend you smoke marijuana are not following the standards of care expected or required by state laws, licensing requirements and medical accreditation boards including civil courts. Here are some of the standards a doctor is expected to follow: Has the patient misused marijuana or other psychoactive and addictive drugs? Is there documentation that the patient has had failure of all other conventional medications to treat his or her ailment? Do they carefully examine and consistently follow up patients who use smoked marijuana as a medical treatment? Is the smoked marijuana free of microbial contaminants? If you went to a doctor for a medical issue, wouldn't you expect them to follow the standard of care? Is the medical society looking at the therapeutic potentials of specific chemicals in marijuana? Are they considering the drug approval process, not just for medical marijuana but for all medicines and especially for controlled substances? Controlled substances are drugs that have recognized abuse potential. Marijuana is high on that list because it is widely abused and a major cause of drug dependence. If Khoury and the medical society are in an "untenable situation," why can't they just say no when a person presents with a medical complaint and wants a card that authorizes them to be in possession of pot. Gary Armstrong Past president, California Narcotics Officers Association Lodi - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom