Pubdate: Mon, 19 May 2014
Source: Buffalo News (NY)
Copyright: 2014 The Buffalo News
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/GXIzebQL
Website: http://www.buffalonews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/61
Author: Dr. Robert Whitney
Page: 10

USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA NOT SUPPORTED BY RESEARCH

As a retired physician with over 35 years of experience in the
addictions field and as a board member for the Erie County Council for
the Prevention of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, I am writing in
opposition to the proposed Senate bill (4406-B) that will legalize
medical marijuana in New York State. There is not an adequate base of
research that shows marijuana, in its most common form (smoked), is
effective for treating any serious medical condition.

Therefore, no major group of medical experts supports the use of
smoked marijuana for treatment of health problems. In a recent review,
the director of the California Center for Medicine Cannabis Research
stated that marijuana could be helpful in the treatment of nerve and
spasm pain of multiple sclerosis, but stated other indications are
less clear.

However, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society still does not
support smoked marijuana as a treatment for MS. These findings are
hardly a strong endorsement of widespread marijuana use for conditions
such as psoriasis, diabetes, post-concussion syndrome and Alzheimer's,
which are authorized in this bill.

We do not have enough information to reliably estimate the safety of
marijuana when used long term. Most studies to date have followed
patients for very short periods of time, often less than a week. This
is not adequate to assess risk of use for indefinite periods of time.
We do know that marijuana can contribute to short- and possibly
long-term brain impairment, motor vehicle accidents, risk of addiction
and an increased risk of long-term psychosis in vulnerable people.

In addition, the bill states that the state Department of Health would
ultimately determine which medical conditions would be authorized for
treatment. It would be advised in this process by medical experts,
citizens and members of the marijuana industry. Practicing physicians
would then be able to determine which individuals could receive
medical marijuana. Without an adequate existing knowledge base, how
can these individuals make careful and informed decisions for their
patients?

Also of concern is the fact that our state will continue to be pushed
to expand the use of marijuana - not for health reasons, but for
recreational use. All other jurisdictions that have opened the medical
marijuana door have been subject to this problem. Hopefully we will
wait to learn from the mistakes of others. I do, however, support Gov.
Andrew M. Cuomo's proposal to make marijuana available to patients
with truly debilitating conditions with careful observation to measure
effectiveness. We are asking our senators to weigh the benefits with
the risks.

Dr. Robert Whitney is public policy chairman for the Erie County
Council for the Prevention of Alcohol and Substance Abuse.
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MAP posted-by: Matt