Pubdate: Fri, 31 Jul 2015
Source: Livingston County Daily Press & Argus (MI)
Copyright: 2015 Livingston Daily Press & Argus
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/Kk1qVKJf
Website: http://www.livingstondaily.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4265
Author: Lee Mitnick

MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES SAVE LIVES

According to the Center For Disease Control, 44 people die from 
prescription opioid overdoses every day in the United States. In 
2013, more than 16,000 people fatally overdosed on prescription painkillers.

Recently, researchers from the Rand Corporation and the University of 
California-Irvine have determined that in the 18 states that allow 
medical marijuana and also allow dispensaries, there was a 16 percent 
reduction in "opioid-related mortality" (deaths) and a 28 percent 
reduction in opioid-abuse treatment admissions. In the six states 
that allow medical marijuana, but not dispensaries, there was no 
difference in opioid related overdoses or abuse treatment admissions. 
Their conclusion: Marijuana dispensaries save lives.

Since our state government has been dragging its feet, a few months 
ago the Howell City Council decided to look into the possibility of 
licensing and regulating provisioning centers (dispensaries) for 
approved Michigan medical marijuana patients. The city council felt 
that to best serve their constituents, something local needed to be 
done. Eventually, however, they decided on continuing the moratorium 
on provisioning centers until at least April 30, 2016.

Considering the new findings, perhaps the Howell City Council, as 
well as the state government, should rethink their ban on 
provisioning centers. Unless, of course, they actually do not care 
for the well being of Michigan's citizens (read voters).

Lee Mitnick

Howell
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom