Pubdate: Sat, 14 Jun 2014
Source: Topeka Capital-Journal (KS)
Copyright: 2014 The Topeka Capital-Journal
Contact:  http://cjonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/455
Author: Eric A. Voth

MARIJUANA IS NOT MEDICINE

Like it or not, legal marijuana is heading our way with its 
associated problems. Several pro-marijuana bills have been introduced 
in the Missouri Legislature. Colorado has experienced more use among 
school kids, even using in school, a 100 percent increase in 
marijuana-related traffic fatalities, increased gang activity, 
pediatric marijuana poisonings and difficulty finding workers who can 
pass drug testing requirements. Now that Colorado has legalized it, 
pot from Colorado is clearly moving into Kansas.

Where is the Food and Drug Administration while Colorado has become 
the Wild West related to pot-containing food and drugs?

This public health nightmare has finally prompted the medical 
community to urge great caution. In recent months, the AMA, American 
Psychiatric Association, American Society of Addiction Medicine and 
the Multiple Sclerosis Association have published positions 
highlighting the need to bring medicines through the FDA - not to 
make them available by public vote. Recently, the National Institute 
on Drug Abuse published a position paper highlighting the medical 
risks of recreational marijuana use and urging that medicines come 
through a formal process.

A new tactic the pro-marijuana lobby is adopting is exploiting a 
marijuana derivative called Charlotte's Web, containing high levels 
of cannabidiol, for pediatric seizure activity. Instead of using 
street drugs, the advocates could apply for Investigational New Drug 
status through the FDA to study the benefits of the drug in a 
controlled research setting. The Capital-Journal recently covered the 
story of a family that moved to Colorado thinking exposing their 
child to a street drug was better than a standardized, carefully 
monitored medical process.

I urge Kansans to push back when the marijuana lobby starts its new 
assault on the Legislature. Legal pot is a problematic drug of abuse 
that we don't need.

ERIC A. VOTH, M.D.

Topeka chairman, Institute on Global Drug Policy
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom