12 states give OK to medicinal cannabis
St. George Daily Spectrum, UT
Apr 14, 2007
Somebody finally got it right. Gov. Bill Richardson recently signed a bill that makes New Mexico the 12th state in the Union to allow medical use of marijuana.
How Richardson and the state legislature got it right was by deciding that instead of just allowing the compassionate medical practice, it would get into the business of producing and distributing the herb, something Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington have not quite come to grips with.
In New Mexico, you will soon be able to go to your doctor who, if it's appropriate, will write a prescription for medicinal cannabis. The patient will then make a purchase through a state-regulated facility.
No more argument about how many plants a medical marijuana patient may cultivate, no more arguments about the compassionate shops that sell cannabis even though they face the risk of federal drug agents raiding their legal stores, no more concern that those who use the drug are also cultivating it for sale.
It's all neat, clean and tidy.
Now, before you get on a high horse about this, let's make it perfectly clear that this is a plea for the legalization of marijuana for medicinal uses. Legalization for recreational use is a different issue. This is about medicine.
Imagine that your doctor says you have a medical condition for which there is no cure, one that will slowly rob you of your quality of life - from impotence to immobility. The condition is guaranteed to result in unrelenting pain that will, in fact, grow worse.
You'll get Lortab, Demerol or Oxycontin for pain. You'll get Soma or Skelaxin to relax the muscles. Probably some Prozac, Lexapro or Zoloft to help with depression and some Xanax or Valium to relieve those moments of high anxiety. Don't forget the Viagra or Cialis to maintain an intimate relationship with your partner, or other meds specific to your condition. And, you'll wind up addicted to one or more of these meds, guaranteed. Not so with cannabis.
According to a Mayo Clinic report (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/medical-marijuana/GA00014), researchers believe cannabis can aid in the treatment of nausea that accompanies chemotherapy or HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, Multiple Sclerosis, spasticity from spinal cord injuries, depression, chronic pain and other disorders.
Cannabis is more gentle on the system and less addictive than those other harsh drugs. It's cheaper. And dosage can be easily regulated by the patient.
Our kids? Recent studies indicate sedatives and painkillers are more popular than marijuana, with alcohol and tobacco the most frequent "gateway" drugs.
I really hope you never hear the Doc say "There's no cure."
But, if you do, I hope by then the government overcomes its prejudices against a medicine that can be of tremendous value to many, that is gentler on the body and can be much more affordable.
Apr 14, 2007
Somebody finally got it right. Gov. Bill Richardson recently signed a bill that makes New Mexico the 12th state in the Union to allow medical use of marijuana.
How Richardson and the state legislature got it right was by deciding that instead of just allowing the compassionate medical practice, it would get into the business of producing and distributing the herb, something Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington have not quite come to grips with.
In New Mexico, you will soon be able to go to your doctor who, if it's appropriate, will write a prescription for medicinal cannabis. The patient will then make a purchase through a state-regulated facility.
No more argument about how many plants a medical marijuana patient may cultivate, no more arguments about the compassionate shops that sell cannabis even though they face the risk of federal drug agents raiding their legal stores, no more concern that those who use the drug are also cultivating it for sale.
It's all neat, clean and tidy.
Now, before you get on a high horse about this, let's make it perfectly clear that this is a plea for the legalization of marijuana for medicinal uses. Legalization for recreational use is a different issue. This is about medicine.
Imagine that your doctor says you have a medical condition for which there is no cure, one that will slowly rob you of your quality of life - from impotence to immobility. The condition is guaranteed to result in unrelenting pain that will, in fact, grow worse.
You'll get Lortab, Demerol or Oxycontin for pain. You'll get Soma or Skelaxin to relax the muscles. Probably some Prozac, Lexapro or Zoloft to help with depression and some Xanax or Valium to relieve those moments of high anxiety. Don't forget the Viagra or Cialis to maintain an intimate relationship with your partner, or other meds specific to your condition. And, you'll wind up addicted to one or more of these meds, guaranteed. Not so with cannabis.
According to a Mayo Clinic report (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/medical-marijuana/GA00014), researchers believe cannabis can aid in the treatment of nausea that accompanies chemotherapy or HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, Multiple Sclerosis, spasticity from spinal cord injuries, depression, chronic pain and other disorders.
Cannabis is more gentle on the system and less addictive than those other harsh drugs. It's cheaper. And dosage can be easily regulated by the patient.
Our kids? Recent studies indicate sedatives and painkillers are more popular than marijuana, with alcohol and tobacco the most frequent "gateway" drugs.
I really hope you never hear the Doc say "There's no cure."
But, if you do, I hope by then the government overcomes its prejudices against a medicine that can be of tremendous value to many, that is gentler on the body and can be much more affordable.
posted by Terry at
9:35 AM
2 Comments:
oes not need government control. It was put here for everybody. Besides that would make sure that only certain people get it and we know how some doctors will perscribe the right person anything. The only reason that it is illegal and will never be legal is because you can grow it year round in all states and it would be FREE. Our government can't control or make money off of that. MJ does not need processing like cigarettes (legal), Alcohol (Legal), both of which are thousands times more destructive than MJ. MJ could be the world's best FREE pain killers, just think no government control, no pharmacutical companies could charge 10,000 times what it cost to make. They are the real dealers. War against drugs is a joke, just another reason the government can take all your belongings.
By
Anonymous, at 11:25 AM
My name is Rod and I live in Washington State.I have sever Emphysema and I am stuck in my home with an oxygen canula strapped to my face and it is a real nightmae. I have tried and tried to get medical coupons from the depart of health and human services and I always get the same results. I have to meet their spend down which for me is 4750.00 dollars for a 6 month term or half that for a 3 month term.There just is no way I could ever meet that kind of spend down when all I get is less than a iooo dollars a month and my wifes social security less than 500 per month.Maybe I could meet it if I don't pay rent or and I don't eat food and pay utilities. I would love it if there was any hope for me but realistically,I am dying,and there just is non to happen so I put my like in Jesus's hands and Let go ad let God!!!
By
Anonymous, at 1:05 PM
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