Editorial: Medical marijuana merits state support
At a time when researchers are plunging into the rainforest in search of new medicines, there’s growing consensus that a humble herb easily cultivated here may help patients struggling with cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis and other painful, difficult-to-manage conditions.The herb, whose slim, multi-pronged leaf makes it instantly recognizable, is marijuana. The Minnesota Senate has already approved a measure that would make Minnesota the 13th state to legalize its medical use. The House will likely vote this spring. Lawmakers, as well as the governor, should give the bill careful yet open-minded consideration and make it a reality.
There’s solid and growing data on the medical benefits of marijuana and its active compound for treating neuropathy (which causes extremity pain), multiple sclerosis, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and chemotherapy-induced nausea and appetite loss. While other treatments are available, there are situations in which marijuana may work best. Doctors should be able to make this call.
The New England Journal of Medicine has editorialized in favor of marijuana’s medical use. In January, the nation’s second-largest group of physicians, the American College of Physicians, weighed in, also in favor.
Minnesota’s [medical marijuana law] is nine pages, and written more tightly [than California's law] to limit abuse. Unlike California, it requires qualifying patients to register and carry an ID card. Patients, who must have a health professional’s approval to qualify, are also not allowed to grow their own; they’d buy marijuana from a registered nonprofit. There’s still potential for abuse. But as Oxycontin illustrates, that can happen with any prescription drug.
Most western states and a handful in the northeast protect patients whose doctors have decided marijuana is the best treatment option. For the most part, the laws have worked well, without the worst-case scenarios feared by law enforcement. It’s time for Minnesota to ensure that its sickest patients have all the treatment options they need.
The people are way ahead of the politicians on this issue. Kudos to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune for seeing through the reefer madness and endorsing such a sensible piece of legislation… though I have my reservations about patients not being allowed to grow their own medicine. Why not allow people who are suffering to treat themselves independently?
Well we all know what pawlenty did to this when it hit his deck. My question is, now that he will be gone in 2011. Why not take some of the limitations in the bill out, especially the one that takes the right to grow away. The only thing that makes me think they would put this in their in the first place is because how pawlenty felt on the issue, thinking if they made it more strict he possibly would let it pass into effect, it didn’t happen and he’s going to be gone. Do You not think they should change it? It isn’t cheap stuff and I don’t think insurance cover it. Thanks for your time. I really hope you get this.
After years of research, I have found medical marijuana to be the most effective treatment for “bitterness” and “anger”. While the relief provided is short-lived, one can overcome this draw-back by smoking more!