Pubdate: Fri, 21 Mar 2014
Source: Post-Bulletin (Rochester, MN)
Copyright: 2014 Post-Bulletin Company, LLC
Contact:  http://www.postbulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1342
Author: Maria K. Poirier

MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS CAUSING A LOT OF PROBLEMS NATIONWIDE

Twenty states have legalized medical marijuana in the past two 
decades. During that time, calls to national poison centers 
pertaining to marijuana exposure in children have doubled. The 
detection of marijuana in fatally injured drivers has tripled. 
Despite safety concerns, there is no standardization of marijuana 
dosing, packaging or delivery systems.

THC, the psychoactive component in marijuana plants, has increased in 
concentration from 4 percent in the 1980s to 15 percent in 2012. 
Marijuana is the most common illicit substance identified among 
patients admitted to drug rehabilitation programs.

The decision of whether a plant with intoxicating properties should 
be legalized for medicinal use belongs in the domain of medical 
professionals, the FDA and law enforcement - not the Minnesota 
Legislature, Gov. Mark Dayton or newspaper editorial boards.

Maria K. Poirier

Rochester
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom