Pubdate: Mon, 21 Mar 2016
Source: Montana Standard (Butte, MT)
Copyright: 2016 Montana Standard
Contact:  http://www.mtstandard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/609
Author: Pat Prendergast
Note: Pat Prendergast, Butte, is the president of Butte Cares and has 
20 years of voluntary work experience in abuse prevention.

PRESIDENT OF BUTTE CARES: MEDICAL MARIJUANA MOVEMENT IS A FACADE

With the recent news coverage regarding the Montana State Supreme 
Court's ruling on marijuana laws and the Montana Standard's editorial 
staff's response, it seems like the perfect opportunity to provide 
some clarifying facts about marijuana.

Marijuana is not a harmless natural compound. The "medical marijuana" 
movement is a well-developed strategic plan to dupe the common man 
into believing that an illicit, illegal drug, with no proven medical 
benefit, should be used as medicine. The marijuana industry used the 
"medical" marijuana platform as part of a strategic plan to 
desensitize the perception of harm and normalize marijuana use. The 
result of this industry is to accomplish what has happened in 
Colorado, Washington state and Washington D.C., specifically 
legalized "recreational" use of marijuana.

The average "medical" marijuana user is a 32-year-old white male with 
a history of alcohol, cocaine and meth use, but NO history of a 
life-threatening illness.

There is no scientific basis for using smoked marijuana as a 
medicine, no sound scientific studies supporting the medical use of 
marijuana for treatment in the United States, and no animal or human 
data supporting the safety or effectiveness of marijuana for general 
medical use. The Food and Drug Administration ruled that smoked 
marijuana does not meet the modern standards of medicine in the United States.

Marijuana is NOT approved nor endorsed by the FDA, The American 
Medical Association, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, The 
American Glaucoma Society, The American Academy of Ophthalmology, The 
American Cancer Society or The American Pediatric Society. The 
National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine (IOM) has 
concluded that smoked marijuana should "not be recommended for medical use."

Marijuana has over 500 components that have been proven to increase 
the risk of cancer, lung damage, and poor pregnancy outcomes. In 
comparison, most prescription medication contains a single compound 
in a standardized dosage. Type, frequency, dosage and duration are 
all determined by medical doctors for each individual based on 
his/her situation.

Smoked marijuana varies by dose due to individual differences in 
absorption and metabolism in the liver, as well as puff frequency, 
depth of inhalation, and retention of inhaled smoke. Some 
constituents of cannabis, including THC, are indeed available today 
in pill form; some synthetic versions of those constituents are also 
available. These can be obtained at a pharmacy.

The use of marijuana under the guise of "medicine" has given rise to 
numerous problems:

Affected youth drug use patterns.

States with "medical" marijuana laws had marijuana abuse/dependence 
rates almost double the states without such laws.

There is a direct correlation between "medical" marijuana and 
decreases in perception of harm and social disapproval.

Individuals who begin using the drug in their teens have 
approximately a one-in-six chance of developing marijuana dependence. 
In fact, children and teens are six times likelier to be in treatment 
for marijuana than for all other illegal drugs combined.

Addiction rates among 12- to 17-year-olds are among the highest 
levels nationally in states that have "medical marijuana" programs.

Marijuana use negatively impacts adolescent brain development.

"Medical" marijuana could negatively impact employability. More than 
6,000 companies nationwide and scores of industries and professions 
require a pre-employment drug test.

20 percent of crashes in the U.S. are caused by drugged driving. 
Marijuana is the most prevalent illegal drug detected in impaired 
drivers, fatally injured drivers, and motor vehicle crash victims.

States that have fully implemented "medical" marijuana programs, to 
include dispensaries, are experiencing public safety issues.

Marijuana is much more powerful today than it was 30 years ago, and 
so are its mind-altering effects.

Legalizing marijuana would significantly decrease the price of the 
drug and could result in an up to 50 percent increase in use.

Take a stand. Become better informed. Help the efforts to make our 
community a safe, healthy, drug free community.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom