Pubdate: Sun, 28 Oct 2012
Source: Times Record (Fort Smith, AR)
Copyright: 2012 Stephens Media Group
Contact: http://www.swtimes.com/site/forms/?mode=letters
Website: http://www.swtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/529
Author: Chris Kell

NATURAL MEDICINE RIGHT FOR NATURAL STATE

In the past month, there have been several pieces that attempted to
boil the debate over medical marijuana down to its core components,
but for thousands of chronically ill Arkansans, there is no "debate"
surrounding medical marijuana. The pain and nausea relief afforded by
this plant helps them recover from their terrible symptoms and live
comfortably without the lengthy list of harmful side effects that you
see on the sides of prescription pill bottles.

Marijuana is currently unregulated and not legally available, but on
Nov. 6, the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act will be Issue 5 on your
ballot. It offers a better choice - controlled access to a medicine
that is proven to be safe and effective, especially in relieving the
debilitating, lifelong effects of chronic illness and harsh medical
treatments like chemotherapy.

Marijuana's medical uses are peer-reviewed and well-documented. Unlike
most pharmaceuticals, it is non-toxic and non-addictive, but more
importantly, it works when other, conventional prescription medicines
fail.

Marijuana may be administered in a variety of ways: via gelcaps and
pills, food and candies, ointments and tinctures, and vaporization or
smoking. From chemotherapy patients to those suffering from Crohn's
disease - many people simply find pills of any kind impossible to
swallow, and marijuana's diverse mechanism of ingestion is the only
thing that can give them relief.

The AMMA is a comprehensive blueprint for establishing and regulating
a medical marijuana program in Arkansas. Entirely overseen by the
Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), it allows for 30 nonprofit
dispensaries across the state.

As has been noted by opponents of the AMMA, dispensaries are
fundamentally different from pharmacies. However, supervised by the
ADH, limited in number, and operated as nonprofits, these dispensaries
will actually be better protected from corruption and diversion. If
marijuana was in pharmacies, the fact is it would be far less
regulated that what the AMMA provides.

In the end, counties and cities will still have the ability to ban
dispensaries in their area in the same way that alcohol is managed.

To purchase their medicine, a qualifying patient will have to first
obtain a written recommendation from a licensed Arkansas physician and
then a Registry ID card from the ADH that will be valid for just one
year.

A qualifying patient may not possess more than 2.5 ounces of usable
marijuana at a time, and a dispensary may not dispense more than 2.5
ounces during a 15-day period to a qualifying patient. Patients living
more than 5 miles away from a dispensary may grow up to six mature
plants, measuring more than 12 inches. The plants must be enclosed and
locked, and will be registered and inspected by the ADH.

The AMMA is a tightly controlled measure, carefully planned and
written to prevent the sort of headaches some other states have seen.
Contrary to some of its opponents' assertions, its language - in part
based on the highly successful Maine act - is extremely conservative
when compared to the laws in high profile states like California and
Colorado. Ironically, teen marijuana use is up nationally - but
actually going down in both California and Colorado.

There's a lot of debate surrounding the AMMA, but remember, its
ability to relieve nausea, muscle spasms, and pain isn't up for
debate. Vote YES on Issue 5 and help sick and dying Arkansans get safe
access to a safe, natural medicine that can ease their suffering.

Chris Kell is the campaign strategist for Arkansans for Compassionate
Care.
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MAP posted-by: Matt