Pubdate: Sun, 03 Mar 2013
Source: Herald News, The (Fall River, MA)
Copyright: 2013 The Herald News
Contact:  http://www.heraldnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3604

RESPECTING MARIJUANA AS MEDICINE

When medical marijuana proponents used Massachusetts' voter 
initiative provision to successfully get a question on the ballot 
authorizing its use, it sparked an intense public debate over whether 
legalizing pot for medical purposes was wise public policy. 
Unfortunately, the debate sometimes involved more fear than facts.

Such tactics are par for the course in politics where facts are often 
rather loose. After all, both sides were trying to appeal to emotions 
to "win" voters over to their side. While some of the concerns raised 
by medical marijuana opponents are valid, others have little basis in 
reality and seem more based on questionable fear tactics than solid facts.

Regardless of one's feelings on the matter, the question over whether 
medical marijuana should be legal has been settled by Massachusetts 
voters. But no law - whether crafted through the legislative process 
or enacted via popular vote - is perfect. There are several issues 
that must still be addressed to ensure the medical marijuana law does 
not do more harm than good. In fact, under the law, the Massachusetts 
Department of Public Health is charged with developing a variety of 
policies related to the law's implementation.

Unfortunately, it appears that the community discussion is running 
behind schedule. Although the law was approved four months ago, there 
are still many more questions than answers. While some may be looking 
to doctors to provide answers, the silence has been deafening from 
the majority of medical providers, who should be at the forefront of 
advising patients and educating the community about the facts when it 
comes to marijuana.

The law will allow medical marijuana for patients suffering from 
cancer, glaucoma, AIDS/HIV, hepatitis C, ALS, Crohn's disease, 
Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and other conditions as 
determined by a physician to grow or obtain marijuana legally. To 
create a legal distribution system, the Massachusetts law allows for 
the licensure of up to 35 nonprofit dispensaries across the state, 
with at least one, and not more than five, per county, in the first year.

While anti-drug organizations like Fall River's BOLD Coalition have 
been active in continuing to spread dubious claims about the effects 
of medical marijuana, no one seems willing to come forward with 
actual medical facts. Both of Fall River's hospitals and community 
health clinics have yet to publicly discuss the matter, saying that 
they have not discussed it as a group. Doctors interviewed by The 
Herald News said they weren't sure what to tell patients who might 
ask about obtaining a prescription.

To his credit, Fall River pharmacist Tom Pasternak, chairman of the 
BOLD Coalition, said that he can see both sides of the issue. His 
professionalism as a pharmacist has allowed him to put his BOLD 
Coalition's opposition aside when it comes to recognizing the 
medicinal effects of marijuana.

Pasternak acknowledged the benefits to using marijuana as medicine 
for certain serious diseases could give patients an alternative to 
highly addictive opioids. Pasternak still views marijuana as a 
"gateway drug," but seems to acknowledge that it is not nearly as 
addictive as opioids currently prescribed to treat such afflictions.

While marijuana's role as a "gateway drug" is debatable, opioids have 
indeed become a real "gateway drug" for many who have been prescribed 
such drugs for pain. "I see so many problems with drug abuse," 
Pasternak said. "If we could solve the drug problem, I think we could 
solve the other problems." On that point, Pasternak is absolutely 
correct. Addiction is dangerous.

While some claim that marijuana is addictive, opioids are clearly a 
drug that trap users in a cycle of addiction. Pasternak brings up a 
very good point that has not been addressed thus far: "I don't think 
a prescription should be good for a lifetime," Pasternak said. "The 
law needs to be tweaked. It needs to be controlled by the medical 
system." That's just one of the issues that ought to be addressed.

Fortunately, Massachusetts is not the first state to grapple with 
this issue, and regulators can look to states that have already 
permitted medical marijuana for guidance on what has worked and what 
has not worked there. After an extensive delay since the Rhode Island 
General Assembly approved medical marijuana in 2006, "compassion 
centers" - the name Rhode Island has adopted for its state-licensed 
medical marijuana dispensaries - are set to open within the next few 
months in Portsmouth and Providence.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has only until May 1 to 
issue regulations on medical marijuana. Unfortunately, there has been 
little rational public discussion about what those regulations should 
be. It seems that the taboo long associated with marijuana use 
continues to make it an uncomfortable topic for public discussion. "I 
think if we're going to be concerned about drugs and how they impact 
and ruin lives, then we need to make sure this is done the right 
way," Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson said.

Since the law of the commonwealth now recognizes marijuana as a 
medicine, it needs to be discussed as such. Continuing to view 
medical marijuana as an elicit narcotic is counterproductive to the 
goal of formulating sound medical decisions and good public policy.

By toning down the rhetoric and engaging in an honest discussion 
about the risks and medical benefits of medical marijuana, the 
commonwealth has an opportunity to develop sound policy that protects 
the interests of all involved.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom