Pubdate: Sun, 13 Jul 2014
Source: Boston Globe (MA)
Copyright: 2014 Globe Newspaper Company
Contact: http://services.bostonglobe.com/news/opeds/letter.aspx?id=6340
Website: http://bostonglobe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/52
Author: Jamie Leaver

PATIENTS SUFFER AS DPH DITHERS ON MARIJUANA

MEDICAL CANNABIS patients must surely disagree with the Globe
editorial "that the Public Health Department has responded to public
concerns and attempted to correct its mistakes." "Mass. must be more
vigilant in vetting marijuana dispensaries," July 6).

DPH has made no discernible efforts to register patients, doctors, and
caregivers, or to provide for safe, legal distribution of medical
cannabis. Rather, DPH has guaranteed that no medical cannabis
dispensaries will open until November, most not until 2015 or later.
This strategy of delay is an attempt to pass Governor Patrick's
voter-mandated duties on to a future administration.

Patients, meanwhile, still wait for the governor's response to their
press conference and letter of April 24 in which they urged him to
speed up the licensing process. Patrick's responsibility to implement
the law continues until the inauguration of his successor; his
culpability for the suffering caused by his failures will continue
long afterward.

Voters should now require all candidates for state office this year to
explain how they will correct the Patrick administration's failures
and immediately implement the medical cannabis program as enacted by
the people.

Jamie Leaver

Sharon
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MAP posted-by: Matt