cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Fear Factor Anticipated





Marijuana Fear Factor Anticipated
Posted by FoM on May 16, 2001 at 07:36:50 PT
By Joshua L. Weinstein, Press Herald Writer
Source: Portland Press Herald
Brian Clark already has his letter from a doctor saying that, for him, marijuana is a medicine. More than a year ago, his doctor certified that she had discussed the potential risks and benefits of marijuana. She signed her name to a letter certifying that he has a debilitating medical condition. So Clark, who turned 28 Tuesday and has had AIDS more than half his life, isn't particularly worried for himself. But he is concerned about other AIDS patients, about cancer patients, about glaucoma patients who, he fears, won't be able to get similar letters. 
He and others are concerned because the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the distribution of marijuana for medicinal purposes. The decision, experts say, has no legal impact on physicians in Maine, but Clark is worried that it will have a chilling effect. "The doctors were, even before the decision, ill-informed," he said Tuesday. "Now they're going to be ill-informed and scared." Clark, who got the virus that causes AIDS from medicine for his hemophilia before he turned 13, was active in Maine's effort to legalize marijuana for limited medical purposes. In 1999, voters here approved a referendum that did just that. But before patients can legally use the drug, they have to consult with their doctors — and get a letter from them. Clark said doctors have been reluctant to issue those letters. Gordon Smith, the executive director of the Maine Medical Association, said that most doctors in Maine are uncomfortable with medical marijuana because they are used to dealing with drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration — drugs whose purity is ensured and are available at pharmacies. Smith, who is a lawyer, said he understands why doctors might now worry about about issuing letters, but said the concern is unnecessary if they believe marijuana is the right drug for their patients. He said doctors should never "step over the line and have them actually acquire the marijuana," but there's nothing wrong with writing letters for patients." Source: Portland Press Herald (ME)Author: Joshua L. WeinsteinPublished: Wednesday, May 16, 2001Copyright: 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.Contact: letters pressherald.comWebsite: http://www.portland.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Mainers For Medical Rightshttp://www.mainers.org/Panel Backs Medical Pot Supply Plan http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9579.shtmlMaine Awaits Drug Ruling http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9002.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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