Pubdate: Wed, 02 Nov 2016
Source: Daily News, The (ND)
Copyright: 2016 The Daily News
Contact:  http://www.wahpetondailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2575
Author: Wayne Stenehjem

MEASURE 5 IS NOT GOOD MEDICINE FOR ND

Measure 5, medical marijuana is not good medicine and it's bad
law.

Measure 5 supporters want you to believe the measure creates a process
for marijuana use that is a safer alternative to traditional
prescription medications. What they have not told you is there is not
enough scientific evidence to prove the benefits outweigh the risks.

They also have not told you Measure 5 authorizes the use of marijuana
for medical purposes without the oversight of your doctor, or any
other medical professional for that matter. Under this proposal,
people who claim to suffer from certain medical conditions can
purchase their marijuana from a so-called "Compassionate Care Center"
or "Designated Care Provider." Do not let the names fool you -
compassionate care center staff and designated care providers are not
required to have any medical or pharmaceutical training.

The chemical ingredients in marijuana vary drastically. It is
unreasonable to believe a person without any medical or pharmaceutical
training can adequately measure the chemical ingredients in marijuana
and prescribe the correct dosage to individual patients with an array
of different conditions. Worse, Measure 5 also provides people with an
option to grow their own marijuana, and use it in the potency and
frequency they determine themselves. This is not good medical practice.

Supporters also want you to believe marijuana is the only viable
option for people who are not receiving adequate pain relief. The
truth is FDA-approved medications containing THC, an active ingredient
in marijuana, are already available in North Dakota. Additional
medications containing cannabidiol are in the final stages of the FDA
process and will likely be available soon. Unlike marijuana, these
medications have undergone significant scientific testing, and are
also only available through a prescription from a licensed medical
provider.

If the lack of scientific evidence and medical professional oversight
is not enough, consider the enormous costs. To implement Measure 5,
the Department of Health will need a $2.5 million appropriation of tax
dollars. This does not represent the additional financial burden
implementation will have on the other entities throughout North
Dakota, in particular law enforcement.

I appreciate the concerns of those who have to contend with medical
issues that elude relief. I also support additional research on
potential medical benefits of medical marijuana. But that does not
mean we should support a measure that is too complicated, expensive
and unproven.

It is safe to say, Measure 5 will not make North Dakota or its
citizens safer or healthier.
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MAP posted-by: Matt