Pubdate: Fri, 09 Oct 2015
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2015 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Contact:  http://www.ajc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28
Author: Blaine Cloud
Note: Blaine Cloud and his wife Shannon are the parents of Alaina 
Cloud, who has Dravet Syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy. They are 
co-chairs of the Georgians for Freedom in Health Care and live in Smyrna.

MEDICAL BENEFITS IMPOSSIBLE TO DENY

Thousands of Georgians may soon have access to medicine that will 
treat their diseases or illnesses, ranging from cancer to 
Alzheimer's. However, state lawmakers must first act to permit the 
harvesting and distribution, under strict guidelines, of cannabis oil.

Earlier this year, the Georgia Assembly passed House Bill 1, which 
was signed by Gov. Nathan Deal on April 16. This law allows the 
possession of cannabis oil with up to 5 percent THC, with a doctor's 
certification, for eight conditions: seizure disorders, cancer, ALS, 
multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, mitochondrial disease, Crohn's and 
sickle cell disease.

While an important first step that has allowed some patients to have 
possession of the oil, the law does not address the important issue 
of how to access it. Currently, Georgia patients have three options 
to obtain the medicine: Have it shipped from a handful of companies 
shipping oil with less than 0.3 percent THC, but most patients need 
more THC; travel to other states, usually Colorado, that have the 
particular medicine needed, but incur unwarranted travel expenses and 
risk breaking federal law to bring it back home; or move to another 
state just to obtain the medicine. No family should be forced to make 
these dangerous and unnecessary choices.

This legislative session, we will be fighting for what the original 
HB 1 included before it was unfortunately scaled back: an in-state 
cultivation and distribution system with additional diagnoses. The 
current Georgia Commission on Medical Cannabis has been tasked by 
Governor Deal to recommend by Dec. 31 an ideal cultivation model, 
which will then hopefully be introduced as legislation in 2016. The 
proposed model would allow for a safe, regulated and tested cannabis 
product grown right here in Georgia, so all patients who need this 
medicine can access it.

The main arguments against in-state cultivation remain the stigma of 
addiction and abuse, and the safety and control of local facilities. 
Both arguments are easily countered with facts. First, medical 
cannabis has nothing to do with addiction, abuse or recreational use. 
Addiction is a completely separate issue with completely different 
arguments. Medical cannabis prevents addiction and abuse, by allowing 
the regulated distribution of a safe, effective product, specifically 
grown to treat the underlying condition, instead of the dangerous 
pharmaceuticals patients and our children do become addicted to. A 
recent study published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol 
Abuse showed cannabis isn't even a gateway drug, concluding 
"marijuana use itself wasn't a risk factor for use of other drugs."

Secondly, regarding safety and control, each facility will be tightly 
regulated and contain the highest security measures, including access 
to law enforcement, video monitoring, ID tags on each plant and 
third-party testing. This tight regulation will also allow doctors 
and researchers to have much better insight into the safety and 
efficacy of the product - as opposed to current law, which forces 
Georgians to fend for themselves with products from other states. 
Doctors are wary of using these products because they don't know 
what's in them or how they were processed.

We must consider all the evidence showing medical cannabis reduces 
seizures, shrinks cancerous tumors, controls symptoms of multiple 
sclerosis, delays the onset of ALS and Parkinson's, drastically 
improves the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, Alzheimer's, 
Crohn's, mitochondrial disease, sickle cell disease, fibromyalgia and 
on and on.

This Schedule 1 substance that the federal government says has no 
medical benefit might in fact have the most medical benefit of any 
drug on any schedule. What other medication has been proven to help 
such a wide range of debilitating conditions? It is a complete 
injustice that Georgians and Americans continue to suffer, and are 
forced to become addicted to dangerous pharmaceuticals, when there is 
a much safer, more effective and cheaper option available.

According to an AJC poll completed earlier this year, 84 percent of 
Georgians support medical cannabis. However, these 84 percent need to 
call their representatives, because our elected officials are not in 
sync with their constituents on this issue. Please call your 
legislator and let him or her know it's time to do the right thing 
and give Georgians access to this safe, effective, life-saving 
medicine - right here in Georgia, as 23 other states have already 
done. It's time to have this option for everyone who so desperately needs it.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom