cannabisnews.com: Hawaii Medical Pot Users Up 87 Percent





Hawaii Medical Pot Users Up 87 Percent
Posted by CN Staff on November 24, 2008 at 06:16:36 PT
By Christie Wilson, Advertiser Maui Bureau 
Source: Honolulu Advertiser 
Hawaii -- The number of medical marijuana patients in Hawai'i has grown 87 percent in the past two years, with the biggest gains on Maui and the Big Island.According to the state Department of Public Safety, 4,200 patients were registered state-wide as of June 30, with 444 more signing up since then.
One reason for the increase is that more doctors have been certifying patients for the program, according to Keith Kamita, head of the department's Narcotics Enforcement Division. Still, a relatively few physicians account for most of the state's medical marijuana patients, he said. One Big Island doctor, for example, accounts for about half of the total certified patients statewide."The ones that utilize the program, they have a lot of patients ... this is their primary means of making money," he said. "Most are general practitioners. (Oncologists and other specialists) don't utilize the program because there are better drugs available and marijuana has other problems."In fiscal year 2008, patients statewide visited 85 on-island physicians to obtain a qualifying diagnosis for medical marijuana use, compared with 62 physicians in fiscal 2006, according to DPS.Even though doctors only diagnose qualifying illnesses and do not prescribe or supply marijuana to patients, many doctors remain hesitant to participate in the program, according to Dr. Yvonne Conner of Hilo, who has 400 medical marijuana patients."Many physicians are still afraid that their medical license might be at risk or they don't want the notoriety," she said. Access is a Problem   Despite the growing use of medical marijuana in Hawai'i, access to the drug remains an issue for many patients whose marijuana use is protected by a state law that conflicts with federal and state laws prohibiting any use or distribution of marijuana.Conner said some patients are physically and mentally unable to grow their own, and others just don't have a green thumb."They have a license to grow it, but they don't have an honest way to get supplies," she said.The head of a Maui group that was openly providing marijuana to patients was arrested Nov. 11 along with six other men for allegedly running a drug-trafficking ring. Snipped   Complete Article: http://drugsense.org/url/NSCTxSqVSource: Honolulu Advertiser (HI)Author: Christie Wilson, Advertiser Maui BureauPublished: Monday, November 24, 2008 Copyright: 2008 The Honolulu AdvertiserWebsite: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/uXtrz8LmCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by The GCW on November 24, 2008 at 08:23:02 PT
Oncologists don't???
My experience with Oncologists is not that they don't utilize medical cannabis (marijuana) programs because there are better drugs available and marijuana has other problems. More, it is due to fear, their busy schedule and knowing patient will choose cannabis if they want either way. Oncologists support patients using cannabis to get through the excessive nausea associated with chemo-therapy or what ever way works best, since the so called “better drugs” don’t always work for everyone. 
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Comment #3 posted by OverwhelmSam on November 24, 2008 at 07:39:54 PT
Sorry, I'm Enamored With This Movie
Strawberry Fields Foreverhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziToC3371NE&feature=related
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Comment #2 posted by OverwhelmSam on November 24, 2008 at 07:37:13 PT
So I'm Surfin For White Album Music
And I find this:Has anyone seen Across the Universe? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EDm3vkfRzo&feature=relatedWild!
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Comment #1 posted by OverwhelmSam on November 24, 2008 at 07:28:51 PT
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
In rememberance of John.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE2Vdcv9Q_o&feature=related
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