Surprise! New York drug rehab director warns of “significant risks to society” from medical marijuana

Day after day I read over op-eds in the nation’s newspapers wherever there is a state pushing for marijuana law reform. Even though scientifically marijuana’s medical efficacy has been proven time and again and thirteen states have recognized medical use and 70%-80% of the public supports medical use, each new state presents the case for medical marijuana as if there were still two debatable sides to the issue and the Reefer Madness that results never fails to frustrate and amuse.

NORML's Reefer Madness Bingo - click for Excel spreadsheet that randomly generates new bingo cards.

Once again I wade into the breach, but this time I thought we ought to have some fun with it.  At left is an example of a new game I’ve created, “NORML’s Reefer Madness Bingo“.  This is an Excel 2003 spreadsheet with 24 of the reefer madness excuses I’ve heard most often from prohibitionists.  Press CTRL+SHIFT+B while in Excel and the card will randomly shuffle all the squares so everyone has a unique playcard.  Print it out and when you hear or read one of the excuses, mark it off.  Five in a row diagonally, vertically, or horizontally wins (what, I don’t know)!  The center space is NORML and you get to mark it off immediately.

Here’s the latest bit of reefer madness, courtesy of Andrea J. Wanat, executive director of the Erie County Council for the Prevention of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, and Robert Whitney, chairman of the Public Policy Committee.

Some people feel that the benefits of use as a medicine outweigh the “exaggerated” physical side effects. The fact is when THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, is inhaled, many other harmful substances are distributed throughout the body. The adverse effects of marijuana smoke on the lungs and respiratory system counteract any possible benefits.

Marijuana smoking has not been found to increase risk for head, neck, or throat cancers.  Marijuana smoking has not been found to increase risk for lung cancer, emphysema, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  Marijuana smoking does lead to an increase in coughing and phlegm.

Also, no FDA approved medications are smoked, probably because smoking is not an effective way to deliver medicine since it is difficult to regulate appropriate dosage in smoked form. Additionally, the FDA has approved Marinol, in pill form, which contains the active ingredient THC.

Smoking marijuana is a very effective way for medicine delivery, as one feels the effects nearly instantaneously and can moderate dosage once the desired effect is achieved.  Taking a Marinol pill takes 45 minutes to digest, at which point a patient will either have taken too much and experienced terrible psychoactive side effects, or taken too little and still be suffering.  This assumes that a puking cancer patients or an HIV/AIDS patient with no appetite can actually swallow and keep a pill down for 45 minutes.

Also, Marinol contains only one active ingredient in marijuana, THC.  THC is highly psychoactive and in Marinol is 100% potent.  THC in natural cannabis varies from 5%-20% THC and is moderated by cannabidiol, or CBD, which counteracts the psychoactivity of THC.  Many patients are gaining benefits from CBD and other cannabinoids not found in Marinol, so the pills would be useless to them.  Finally, a single Marinol pill can cost $10 – $20, or thousands of dollars per month for the sickest patients.

Ah, but since the FDA has not approved natural marijuana, I guess you’re better off taking one of the pills the FDA has approved as safe for human use.  Like Vioxx or Posicor.

Some individuals report improvement in the relief of severe, persistent pain from cancer with the use of marijuana. The fact is that patients may benefit from and require short-term use. However, long-term use presents additional risks including the development of physical dependence and impaired immune and lung functions.

While a recognized cannabis dependence syndrome exists, only 9% of users ever experience it, compared to 15% of alcohol users and 32% of tobacco users who become addicted.  The physical dependence threatened here is irritability, sleeplessness, and change in appetite.  It’s not like the physical cravings that accompany alcoholism or nicotine addiction.

Also, if marijuana harms the immune system, why are doctors recommending it for AIDS patients?

The legalization of medicinal marijuana presents significant risks to society. Since perceived risk correlates with trends in teen use of marijuana, it is likely that current trends in lowered marijuana use would reverse as teens discover “marijuana is an approved medicine.” It is well documented that widespread availability of cheap substances increases abuse.

Well, that’s odd, because exactly the opposite has happened.  In the states that have legalized medical use of marijuana, teen use has dropped.  Even in California, where doctors can write recommendations for any ailment they feel marijuana will help and where over 400 retail store-front dispensaries are making marijuana more available.

BINGO!