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| Pots Legality Questioned HMA Awaits Fed's Approval |
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Posted by FoM on August 29, 2001 at 10:52:11 PT By Sacha Mendelsohn, Ka Leo Associate News Editor Source: Ka Leo O Hawaii 
According to the Department of Public Safety- Narcotics Enforcement division, over 200 patients are taking advantage of recent changes in Hawaii's laws and using marijuana for medical purposes. Over a year ago, marijuana was legalized in Hawai'i; a law that is in effect in only seven states nationwide. But the Hawai'i Medical Association, a physician professional organization, is opposed to prescribing medical marijuana. According to Paula Arcena, legislative and government affairs director for the HMA, physicians who recommend medical marijuana risk losing their federal license to prescribe controlled substances and could be subject to criminal prosecution. Patients must get certification through their physician to use marijuana. The Narcotics Enforcement division is contacted by the physician when marijuana is prescribed, and the patient must register in order to take the drug. Registration information is confidential. Recent law provides then, that a properly registered patient is allowed to grow or purchase marijuana. Currently, the state is not involved in growing or supplying the plant. According to Act 228, the Medical Marijuana law, a patient is allowed to have up to three mature marijuana plants, four immature plants and one ounce of usable marijuana per each mature plant. Only certain diseases and conditions qualify for the drug. The Department of Public Safety lists those that qualify — cancer, glaucoma, HIV, severe pain, severe nausea and persistent muscle spasms. Arcena said that there are medical risks in using marijuana. Because marijuana is administered by smoking, she said, it can be a potential respiratory problem to some patients. In September 2000, Conant vs. McCaffrey was argued before the 9th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals. It held that the right of a physician to discuss or recommend the medical use of marijuana to a patient was protected by the First Amendment. In this case, brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and others on behalf of physicians and patients, Judge Willian Alsup wrote: "this injunction applies whether or not the physician anticipates that the recommendation will in turn be used by the patient to obtain marijuana in violation of federal law." The HMA does not keep a list of which physicians are willing to certify patients to receive marijuana, but according to Arcena there are many who will not recommend the drug. The HMA does support research of marijuana for medicinal uses, and would support it as a medication if it received approval from the Federal Drug Administration. According to a position paper from the HMA, "Until such time as there are adequate and well-controlled studies proving the clinical benefits of medical marijuana the HMA opposes its legalization." The HMA's bottom line is that they believe that efforts to legalize medical marijuana should focus on the FDA approval process so that physicians and their patients can be assured of a safe delivery and supply of medical marijuana for treatment of medical conditions based on clinical evidence. Source: Ka Leo O Hawaii (HI) Related Articles & Web Site: Hawaii Medical Service Association Medicinal Cannabis Research Links Don’t Let DEA’s Dogs Loose on Medical Pot Hawaii Governor Signs Medical Marijuana Bill Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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Comment #4 posted by Rev. Jonathan Adler on August 31, 2001 at 21:56:15 PT:
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| Currently over 250 patients in Hawaii have signed up asnd received State ID cards for medical marijuana. I have personally discussed my efforts to assit those in need with the head administrator Keith Kamita/ State Narcotics Enforcement and told him his job is to ID and register the patients, my job is to inform them and service thewir medical needs. He agreed and admitted in court Friday that he had indeed signed my card and I was allowed three ounces of marijuana legally at all times! Rev. Jonathan Adler [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by Diqwhole on August 29, 2001 at 17:48:36 PT |
| I always wondered this...why are doctors so against medical marijuana? I can understand the arguement about the (minor) health risks. But if someone has cancer, HIV, etc., then Im sure that a risk of respiratory problems is probably the last thing on their mind. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by mayan on August 29, 2001 at 14:23:41 PT |
| People are getting real sick of the pharmaceutical companies & their transparent fight against this miracle plant. Even the most conservative people I know can't understand why anyone would care what medicines a dying person would take to alleviate their pain & suffering. There is a tremendous backlash growing against the Federal Government because of their ill-willed stance on medicinal marijuana. THE FED'S ARE DEAD WRONG ON THIS BUT THEY DON'T CARE BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING RICH AS SICK PEOPLE SUFFER!!! We can either stand up now or lay down later! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by medicinal toker on August 29, 2001 at 12:13:10 PT |
| "The HMA's bottom line is that they believe that efforts to legalize medical marijuana should focus on the FDA approval process so that physicians and their patients can be assured of a safe delivery and supply of medical marijuana for treatment of medical conditions based on clinical evidence." Efforts have been focusing on FDA approval for decades, but the FDA and other agencies don't play fair. Why is HMA willing to let patients suffer needlessly while they wait for a corrupt agency to do the right thing? Something is rotten in Hawaii -- the cold hearts of the compassion-free physicians who call the HMA's shots! [ Post Comment ] |
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