cannabisnews.com: Proposal Doesn't Contain Enough Safeguards





Proposal Doesn't Contain Enough Safeguards
Posted by CN Staff on October 24, 2008 at 06:12:38 PT
Editorial
Source: Livingston Daily Press
Michigan -- Proposal 1 on the statewide ballot in the Nov. 4 general election would allow physician-approved use of marijuana by registered patients with "debilitating medical conditions" such as glaucoma, cancer, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, multiple sclerosis, and other conditions. The Department of Community Health would be assigned to oversee this process.Under the proposal, patients would get an ID card and would be allowed to grow up to 12 plants from which to process their pot.
The proposal would "permit registered and unregistered patients and primary caregivers to assert medical reasons for using marijuana as a defense to any prosecution involving marijuana."We urge voters to cast their ballots NO, not because we are unsympathetic to those who are truly sick, but because the proposal does not appear to have enough safeguards to keep this from becoming a free-pot-smoking card for anyone who can find a sympathetic doctor.Under this proposal, pot would not be prescribed in the typical sense. When you get a prescription from a doctor for other drugs, he or she determines how many doses you get, how often you are to take them, and when your access to the drug ends. The doctor follows up to make sure the drug is working, that you are getting the right amount, and that there are no troublesome side effects.Yes, doctors can allow for refills, but they decide how many. And for chronic illnesses, the doctor can allow you to take the drug indefinitely. But it is the doctor who decides how much, how often, how long.Under Prop 1, once you get a card, the individual patient grows his or her own, processes his or her own, determines when to use it, how much and how often. And there appears to be no end to how long one can use the marijuana.If this is really for medical use, it should have the same safeguards as are put on the use of other drugs through the prescription system.One only need look at California as an example of how this can go wrong. Today in San Francisco, there are more medical marijuana dispensaries than Starbucks coffeehouses.CBS's "60 Minutes" has documented widespread abuse of the system, including doctors willing to hand out permission to smoke pot to patients for nearly any excuse. Even proponents of the original ballot initiative there describe the situation as "chaos."All that being said, this proposal shows what happens when Congress and the state Legislature fail to address real issues.Pain management is a true problem. And some medical experts say that pot is the more effective form of treatment for some conditions. If a doctor thinks a joint would be the best medicine for a patient in a given situation, he or she should be able to give it.But that means lawmakers would have to put in place regulations that make the drug available, under the proper controls.It should also be made available in an affordable fashion. Opponents to Prop 1 point out that there are alternative drugs and methods available those medical conditions. And there are.But some are expensive, and not all of those who suffer chronic pain have good insurance coverage. Opponents point to a drug known as Marinol, an oral form of THC, which is the effective ingredient in marijuana. So this would be a pill form of pot. Proponents point to the price, $17 per pill.So while we are not in favor of Proposal 1, we are in favor of the Legislature making sure that viable pain management techniques — perhaps even smokable marijuana — are readily and affordably available those who need them, under a well-regulated system that assures abuse will be minimized.Source: Livingston County Daily Press & Argus (MI)Published: October 24, 2008Copyright: 2008 Livingston Daily Press & ArgusWebsite: http://www.livingstondaily.comContact: http://drugsense.org/url/23S0e9bzRelated Articles & Web Site:Stop Arresting Patientshttp://www.stoparrestingpatients.org/ Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24248.shtmlLegalizing Marijuana for Medical Use Hot Topichttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24245.shtmlProposal 1 Offers Relief, Compassion, Safeguardshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24241.shtml 
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Comment #4 posted by ekim on October 24, 2008 at 18:31:21 PT
Hey Livingston Daily Press 2wrongsdontmakeitright
All that being said, this proposal shows what happens when Congress and the state Legislature fail to address real issues
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on October 24, 2008 at 09:55:21 PT
State of Michigan MMJ PDF
http://www.michiganliberal.com/upload/engler%20endorsement.pdf
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Comment #2 posted by dongenero on October 24, 2008 at 09:03:33 PT
countless OTC substances
If this is really for medical use, it should have the same safeguards as are put on the use of other drugs through the prescription system.This argument is not sound.Hey, there are many, many, many substances for medical use that do not go through the prescription system. Many of these OTC substances are far more dangerous than cannabis.
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on October 24, 2008 at 06:36:21 PT
OT: Oops Again
Looks like people who are in the Stock Market are losing again today. It's down over 400 points. The whole thing seems crazy to me.
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