Medical Marijuana Consultations

A lot of people are in awe
of the numerous individuals who exert much effort lining up for application
or registration to obtain medical marijuana cards.
Actually, there
could be several reasons why cannabis card acquisition may be considered.

A cannabis card may be used
for an individual’s legal protection, which could be the primary reason
why patients and advocates (caregivers, medical marijuana doctors,
etc.) patronize it.
It should be emphasized that under the state
and federal law, the use of cannabis even for medical purposes is illegal.

Consequently, if an individual uses cannabis without a cannabis card,
he or she is breaking the law and is subject to prosecution imposed
on marijuana users.
More so, even individuals who uses cannabis
as a legitimate treatment for illness, they are still considered law-breakers
if they do not have a cannabis card or a medical recommendation from
a licensed physician/medical marijuana
doctor.
Accordingly, having a cannabis card offers full legal
protection against the state laws on marijuana use.

Another reason is based on
many studies that have already proven the medicinal effect of cannabis.

Cannabis has been known of curing serious illness and relieving pain
without having long-term side effects.
It has been used as an
effective medicine on painful nausea caused by chemotherapy, glaucoma,
and others.
Thus, if one has a cannabis card, the individual can
easily obtain medical marijuana as needed.

Cannabis cards can also be
the entrance tickets to medical marijuana clubs and dispensaries.

Cannabis cards allow a qualified individual to purchase or obtain medical
marijuana in dispensaries or clubs without being questioned.
This
is because once an individual has a cannabis card, it means he or she
is a legitimate patient recommended by a licensed physician/medical
marijuana doctor to use medical marijuana.

Additionally, patients with
cannabis cards are able to go to medical marijuana dispensaries and
medicate with fellow patients apart from experiencing the amenities
of many cannabis clubs and dispensaries.

Lastly, an individual with
a cannabis card can grow and cultivate medical marijuana in their homes
or private places.
Apart from buying medical marijuana legally,
cannabis cardholders can also grown their own to avoid traveling to
medical marijuana dispensaries.
Say, if one is bedridden or too
weak to travel, he or she can grow medical marijuana in his or her own
home just as long as he or she obtains a cannabis card.

Any qualified medical marijuana
patient (advised by licensed physician/medical marijuana
doctor) with cannabis card is allowed to have maximum of 6 mature
plants growing at a time.
In California, this is considered a
fairly generous number since 4 pounds of dried flower can be reaped
from a single 6-feet cannabis plant.
Ultimately, this also saves
money for patients.

In relation to obtaining cannabis
cards, the Medical Marijuana Evaluation Center in Southern California
offers the best way to obtain such cards.
The MMEC is the largest
provider of medical cannabis cards in California.
The physicians
or medical marijuana doctors are pre-screened and possess valid
permits to practice medicine.
Since MMEC offers high quality medical
cannabis cards, patients no longer need to carry around their licensed
physician’s or medical marijuana
doctor’s recommendation.

The number of patients inclined
to visit medical marijuana clinics and dispensaries, which can provide
them with appropriate marijuana dosage, is continuously increasing.

Doctors (licensed physicians/marijuana doctors) are told by the
California Medical Association that it “does not encourage physicians
to provide specific recommendations of daily dosage levels” when informing
patients on medical marijuana.

Patients of medical marijuana
in the Food and Drug Administration’s Single Patient Investigational
New Drug program have been advised of a standard dose of 2 ounces per
week.
The LAPD has recommended that per-visit doses be limited
to 1 ounce; however, this would necessitate patients or caregivers to
visit or make frequent trips at least twice a week to medical marijuana
clinics and dispensaries.
Accordingly, it creates an unnecessary
difficulty for the patients and caregivers, and most likely increase
traffic in the neighborhoods of medical marijuana clinics and dispensaries.

It has been anticipated that
many eligible caregivers, marijuana doctors, and qualified patients
are expected not to take part in medical marijuana clinics, dispensaries,
or collectives or join in the California Medical Marijuana Card Program
unless they are presented with substantial accommodations for their
health and privacy needs.
This may be seen as impractical because
in the absence of voluntary participation in a program such as the medical
marijuana I.D. card program framed in the Medical Marijuana Association
of the state, the identification of eligible caregivers, marijuana
doctors, and qualified patients in medical marijuana clinics and
dispensaries is substantially a greater task for the Los Angeles courts
and police.

Without the applicable system
for medical marijuana clinics and dispensaries, patients are prompted
to grow their own marijuana as protected without restriction under the
Compassionate Use Act.
More so, patients might turn to the black
market instead of qualified medical marijuana clinics and dispensaries.

Eligible caregivers, marijuana doctors, and qualified patients
who choose not to participate in medical marijuana clinics, dispensaries,
or collectives programs may experience difficulties since verifying
physicians’ or marijuana doctors’ recommendations and non-standardized
works can be time-consuming and may result to wrongful sanctions.

Based on the prohibitions of
the California Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program, patients
would be protected from unnecessary arrests and seizure of property
from local or state law enforcement upon having a cannabis card. The
SB 420 legislation was preempted by the state constitution from requiring
that patients, caregivers, and marijuana doctors, obtain a cannabis
card.
In addition, the State Attorney General had issued an opinion
that the city would be prevented from creating cannabis cards, which
is a mandatory requirement for the disallowing seizure and prevention.

This is because such provisions would be in contrast with the state
law.

Several medical marijuana clinics
and dispensaries, apart from supplying medicine to their patients, provide
other services including support groups, administering medical marijuana,
and counseling by marijuana doctors.
Advocates and patients
claim that on-site consumption is an essential service for patients
who are physically weak or ill and who are located in places where federal
drug laws are enforced.
However, there is an ordinance that limits
such services in which medical marijuana clinics and dispensaries provide
such as overly restrictive hours of operations.

The Director of Health Services
under the governance of Schwarzenegger had suspended the cannabis card
program for two weeks, which kept medical marijuana patients from obtaining
cannabis cards to which they have the right to acquire under California
law.
On the eve of its scheduled expansion, the cannabis card
program was suspended; thus, the suspension also halted the development
of the cannabis card program from a four-county pilot program to statewide
system.

In this light, the American
Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) had
asked the administration of Schwarzenegger to reinstate the California
Medical Marijuana Card Program, threatening a lawsuit if not responded
to.
In a joint effort, ACLU and DPA sent a letter to the Governor
threatening a lawsuit against him for violation of the state’s constitution.

The California Medical Marijuana
Card program incorporates a framework to protect qualified patients
and advocates (caregivers, marijuana doctors, etc.) from seizure
of their medicine and unnecessary arrests.

Luckily, the Governor’s office
complied with the demands of the marijuana advocates including organizations,
patients, caregivers, marijuana doctors, etc. to reinstate the
cannabis card program.
The State Attorney General’s explanation
that the issuance of cannabis cards could not possibly violate the federal
law, prompted the reinstatement of the card program.
According
to Jonathan Renner, Deputy Attorney General, “A unilateral decision
not to comply with state law, on the ground that it may be prohibited
by federal criminal law, without first receiving the guidance of an
appellate court, is barred by the California Constitution.”

Renner agreed with the letter sent by the ACLU and DPA and further stated
that the decision of the federal government to criminalize marijuana
does not require California to the same.
It should be noted that
marijuana is illegal under the federal law, for whatever purpose the
drug may serve and that possession, distribution, or recommendation
of the drug by patients, providers, caregivers, marijuana doctors,
etc. are liable for arrests.

To the delight of Allen Hopper,
an attorney with the ACLU said, “California’s reinstatement of the
card program squarely confirms that state medical marijuana laws across
the country remain completely valid and in force.”
Hopper added
that medical marijuana patients and advocates (caregivers, marijuana
doctors, etc.) can breathe with ease upon the reinstatement of the
cannabis card program.
More so, he commended the prompt resolution
issued by the Attorney General on the program protecting the rights
of patients, caregivers, marijuana doctors, providers, etc.

Consequently, the Department
of Health Services had received appreciation from Daniel Abrahamson,
Director of Legal Affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), for deciding
to resume with the cannabis card program.
Abrahamson said, “The
Department of Health Services made the right decision and did so quickly.

I commend the Department for its commitment to protect patients, and
its decision to expand the ID program statewide.
The Department’s
program could soon become a model for other states and even the entire
nation.”

On the other hand, the Director
of Health Services is still concerned on the matter that the information
obtained by the state from medical marijuana card applicants may subject
them to subpoena or arrests by federal officers and/or be used against
the patients and other parties (caregivers, marijuana doctors,
etc.) interested in obtaining the card.

In New Mexico, the regulations
for production and distribution system and registry of cannabis card
system for its medical marijuana I.D. card program have been finalized.

The state’s Department of Health was responsible for finalizing the
regulations and will accept applications from interested parties including
users, caregivers, marijuana doctors, providers, and distributors
of medical cannabis for patients.
The patients can apply to cultivate
marijuana for themselves.

The New Mexico regulations
on medical marijuana involves two kinds of licensed producers; first,
a qualified patient (with a physician’s or marijuana doctor’s
recommendation) who can cultivate up to 4 mature plants and 12 seedlings
for private, adult use and second, a nonprofit private organization,
which can produce a maximum of 95 mature plants and seedlings with inventory
of medical marijuana reflecting the current needs of patients at any
time.
The health needs of qualified patients and the public safety
in discerning the number and location of licenses approved for cannabis
cards would be thoroughly considered by the Health Secretary.

In a statement by Dr. Alfredo
Vigil, Health Secretary, he said that his department and officials of
New Mexico have exerted much effort in establishing a medical marijuana
I.D. card program, which will be appropriate and conforms to the needs
of medical cannabis patients.
He added that patients can now obtain
medical marijuana for their chronic illnesses, ensured that acquisition
is legal and safe under state law.

On the other hand, advocates
(caregivers, providers, marijuana doctors) and patients using
medical marijuana argued that the Department of Health revised its regulations
with regard to verifying applicant information, monitoring of actions
and requirements for nonprofit entities.

More so, the Department
also altered its application fees with regard to cannabis cards for
patients applying to be producers.
According to the altered regulations
on cannabis card, fees are waived based on the income of patients.

The Department would evaluate the regulation and an annual report would
be provided to the Health Secretary in order to discern if the needs
of patients are met and if there is a need to establish a state-run
production and distribution facility involving eligible providers and
marijuana doctors.

Prior to the revision on the
regulations, medical marijuana patients were allowed to possess 6 ounces
of medical cannabis.
After three public hearings, the regulations
on the registry cannabis cards were revised due to the feedbacks received.

With respect to the concerns of inadequate quantity assigned for every
medical marijuana patient, the revised regulation stated that a consideration
would be given in increasing the amount if a patient or producer has
a valid explanation from a physician or marijuana doctor for
needing larger amounts of marijuana.

To date, the Department of
Health in New Mexico had approved 207 cannabis card applications since
the medical marijuana I.D. card program began.
All of the approved
applicants have chronic illnesses, eligible to receiving medical marijuana
for relief or treatment.
Seven health conditions are specified
in the state law for use of medical marijuana.
On the other, the
law permits advocates (caregivers, providers, marijuana doctors)
and patients using and recommending medical marijuana to petition the
Department to add or revise conditions for marijuana.

In Fresno County, the Board
of Supervisors fulfilled the adoption of a medical marijuana I.D. card
program in a 3-1 vote.
This makes the county the 41st
county to comply with a mandated requirement by a state law (SB420)
passed in 2003 although one board member refused to vote.
Through
the medical marijuana I.D. card program, local and state law enforcement
officers will be able to discern if patients and other advocates (caregivers,
marijuana doctors, etc.) are qualified medical marijuana users and
upholders and if they are operating within the law, which discards false
arrests.

According to Aaron Smith, California
organizer for the Marijuana Policy Project, the Legislature, the courts,
and voters of California together with advocates (caregivers, marijuana
doctors, etc.) of medical marijuana have stood under a united decision
that counties should comply with the medical marijuana law of the state.

He added that, “Hopefully the decision to implement this program in
Fresno County will send a message to the other counties across the San
Joaquin Valley that have yet to comply.”

Previously, Fresno’s Board
of Supervisors decided to shelve a decision until a ruling by the 4th
Circuit Court of Appeals on a challenge to the medical marijuana I.D.
card program by San Diego and San Bernardino counties is mandated.

Officials from both counties pledged to appeal to the California Supreme
Court after the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously
dismissed the case.
According to Smith, the board members of Fresno
displayed comprehension and respect for the rule of law while their
counterparts in San Bernardino and San Diego continue to refuse to do
the same.
Smith said as the medical marijuana I.D. card program
is simple and mandatory; no excuse may be given out by any county official
to obstruct such a comprehensible medical marijuana I.D. card program.

The decision made by the Board
of Supervisors pleased patients and advocates (caregivers, marijuana
doctors, etc.) claiming that local and state officials have realized
the significance of protecting the rights of seriously ill patients
in using marijuana for relief as recommended by their physicians/marijuana
doctors.

Attorney General Jerry Brown
had sent out extensive guidelines on how law should treat with patients
using medical marijuana as well as marijuana doctors and collectives
recommending and providing the drug.
The Police Chiefs Association
commended such move done by Brown, being a substantial step in clarifying
the law.
The guidelines mentioned that cannabis cards are representations
of ways that ensure the security of marijuana for medical use.

Conversely, Dana Bobbitt, a
Fresno resident who uses medical marijuana to help in his treatment
of Hepatitis C said that the decision of the Fresno Board of Supervisors
symbolizes a victory for reasonable and considerate policymaking.

Bobbitt, who was advised by his medical marijuana doctor to use
the drug, also added that it was high time for the local leaders to
assume their obligation in upholding the rule of law as well as regarding
the will of the voters through the implementation of the medical marijuana
I.D. card program.

Fact Sheet: Medical Marijuana

More than 20% of the population
in United States is now residing in a state where concerns and the voice
of voters with regard to medical marijuana have been made into significant
law.
Since 1996, eleven states had adopted medical marijuana laws
mostly through the votes of people (patients, caregivers, marijuana
doctors, providers, etc.).
These states include California,
Hawaii, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Nevada,
and Vermont.

On the other hand, the federal
law still considers the use, possession, or recommendation of marijuana
as a criminal violation regardless of the purpose for its use.

As such, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has ameliorated its
enforcement against users, caregivers, providers, and even marijuana
doctors, who use, cultivate, distribute, or recommend marijuana
for medicinal purposes.
More so, it has extended its enforcement
efforts even in situations where the use and distribution of the drug
is legal under state law.
In addition, the DEA has focused its
enforcement efforts in California where the usage and distribution of
the drug is rampant.

In relation to the marijuana-related
raids being conducted by the DEA, the California legislature has passed
a resolution that encourages Congress to respect state law, re-schedule
marijuana to allow physicians/marijuana doctors to prescribe
the drug, and stop the raids by the DEA.
In Santa Cruz, California,
a lawsuit has been initiated against the federal government in an argument
that the federal government does not have the constitutional jurisdiction
to arrest and put medical marijuana patients and advocates (caregivers,
providers, marijuana doctors) to jail following state law.

There are several significant
points in favor of allowing the use and distribution of marijuana.

At the same time, there are also points against marijuana regardless
of its purpose. For one, more than 70% of voters express their support
in the right of patients to use marijuana with physician’s or marijuana
doctor’s recommendation.
Even physicians, doctors, and nurses
support medical marijuana.
In fact, the Institute of Medicine
has determined that marijuana can mitigate pain, anxiety, nausea, and
appetite loss.
In addition, many medical associations have agreed
of allowing the use of medical marijuana.
These include the California
Medical Association, American Public Health Association, the AIDS Action
Council, American Bar Association, National Association of Attorneys
General, and American Nurses Association.

On the other hand, the federal
government is persistently impairing the right of states to establish
and implement their own regulations on medical marijuana.
As medical
marijuana advocates (patients, caregivers, marijuana doctors,
providers, etc.) ask to give states more liberty to make their own policies,
opponents of the drug support the federal government in depriving states
of the right to establish such policies.

Advocates (patients, caregivers,
marijuana doctors, providers, etc.) of medical marijuana have determined
that it is much more substantial to fight against major drug traffickers
and violent crime than arresting cancer and AIDS patients using medical
marijuana.

The State Senate will hold
a floor vote on The Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act or Senate
Bill 119, which would make New Jersey closer to another step in becoming
the 14th state to allow usage of medical marijuana for patients
with physician’s or marijuana doctor’s recommendation.
The Compassionate Use Medical
Marijuana Act (SB 119) states that patients suffer from severe illnesses
such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and glaucoma are allowed
to use medical marijuana with a physician’s or marijuana doctor’s
recommendation.
It should be noted that medical marijuana has
been proven effective for relieving chronic pain, muscle spasms, chemotherapy-induced
nausea, wasting syndrome, and loss of appetite.

In addition, patients would
have to register with the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services
and would need a recommendation from a physician or marijuana doctor.

In the event that registrations of patients are approved, they would
be issued with cannabis cards that indicate permission to use and possess
medical marijuana.

According to Roseanne Scotti,
Director of NJ Drug Policy Alliance said, “New Jerseyans overwhelmingly
support this legislation.”
She further stated that Polling has
shown support running as high as 86 percent.
This legislation
is moving forward because legislators have heard the voices of constituents
across the state.
For the sake of our most vulnerable, our sick
and dying patients struggling for relief, now is the time for New Jersey
to join the growing list of states allowing compassionate use of medical
marijuana.”

Medical marijuana advocates
(patients, caregivers, marijuana doctors, providers, etc.) are
looking forward to New Jersey’s decision to approve the Compassionate
Use Legislation.
Don McGrath, a medical marijuana advocate, whose
son is a cancer patient, found the drug has immensely improved his son’s
quality of life.
Thus, McGrath is enlivened that the Senate would
be facing the important issue with regard to medical marijuana.

He stated that, “If passing this bill could reduce the suffering of
just one patient in New Jersey, it would be worthwhile and it would
demonstrate the concern the Senate has for their most needy citizens.”

Many others had commended the
State Senate for dealing with the issues related to medical marijuana.

Dr. Denis Petro, an expert on medical marijuana who testified before
the legislature on the drug’s scientific report stated that, “With
passage of the legislation, patients with serious and life-threatening
disorders can be offered a safe and effective alternative when conventional
therapy is inadequate. The bill represents a positive step toward a
rational policy regarding medical marijuana.”
Petro is a board-certified
neurologist in Pennsylvania with over 25 years experience in marijuana
research.

Apart from the advocates (patients,
caregivers, marijuana doctors, providers, etc.) of medical marijuana,
several organizations are in support of the legislation.
These
include the New Jersey Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, the
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Southern NJ, the New Jersey State Nurses
Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, the New Jersey League
for Nursing, and the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians among others.

1. Obtaining Prescriptions
for Medical Marijuana:
Due to the fact that medical marijuana
is illegal under federal law, licensed physicians and even marijuana
doctors are not allowed to prescribe medical marijuana.
However,
if state law permits, physicians and marijuana doctors can recommend
marijuana in those states without the fear of being arrested.

Currently, 12 states are allowing
physicians and marijuana doctors to recommend marijuana to their
patients.
On the other hand, although if an individual resides
in one of the 12 states; it is difficult to find a physician or even
a marijuana doctor to recommend marijuana.
This is because
no registration of doctors associated with medical marijuana recommendation.

Advocates are therefore advised to develop a strong relationship with
their physicians so that they can bring up the issue.
Logically,
once a doctor (physician/ marijuana doctor) gets to know their
patients well, he/she will more likely recommend medical marijuana.

In California, patients can get a list of supportive physicians and
marijuana doctors from California NORML.

In the event that a medical
marijuana law has not yet been mandated in a state, an individual or
patient is encouraged to work on changing medical marijuana laws so
that physicians/marijuana doctors can recommend the use of medical
marijuana.
Many organizations can aid individuals on their concerns
regarding medical marijuana.
These include California NORML, Oregon
Public Health Service, The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, and Washington
Citizens for Medical Rights.
Apart from these organizations, more
and more medical marijuana advocacy groups are being established in
various states.

2. Determining the Status of
Medical Marijuana in a State:
Currently, there are twelve states
that allow physicians and marijuana doctors to recommend medical
marijuana to their patients.
These include California, Hawaii,
Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Washington, Alaska, Colorado, Maine,
Nevada, Oregon, and Vermont.
The medical marijuana laws of these
states are available in each of their websites.

Although the voters in Washington,
D.C. had approved a medical marijuana ballot initiative, the Congress
hampered the law from its implementation.
On the other hand, other
states have mandated laws, which authorize medical marijuana research
programs as well as significant legislation in favor of medical marijuana.

Individuals can obtain help
or be active participants in changing medical marijuana laws through
several state-based medical marijuana organizations including Washington
Citizens for Medical Rights, California NORML, Oregon Public Health
Service, and the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii.

A new exemption has been created
by the Proposition 215 from criminal sanctions for medical use of marijuana.

On the other hand, many people misunderstood the real concept of Proposition
215, saying that it legalizes marijuana.
On the contrary, Prop
215 does not legalize marijuana but changes the treatment of the State
of California’s court system on medical marijuana patients, caregivers,
marijuana doctors, etc.
It allows patients with a physician’s
or marijuana doctor’s recommendation to use the drug for medical
treatment.
Thus, Prop 215 offers patients, caregivers, marijuana
doctors, etc. a new legal defense to protect their right.

In the event that patients,
caregivers, marijuana doctors, etc. are arrested, they are entitled
to an exemption from the law.
This entails that the burden of
proof is on these people since they need to prove their medical need
and capacity to use and recommend marijuana.

The Proposition 215 was intended
to protect seriously ill patients from criminal sanctions for medical
marijuana use.
Thus, only individuals with their physician’s
or marijuana doctor’s recommendation to use medical marijuana
for treatment can utilize Proposition 215 as a legal defense against
unnecessary arrests and criminal sanctions.

A doctor (licensed physician
or marijuana doctor) must be able to discern if medical marijuana
is appropriate for treatment of their patient’s illnesses.
The
medical conditions considered under the Proposition 215 include cancer,
AIDS, epilepsy, muscle spasms, and glaucoma among other diseases.

However, it is not enough to have one of these diseases to be automatically
qualified for marijuana exemption under Prop 215.
As mentioned,
a doctor’s recommendation is substantial.

Although Proposition 215 is
now a law, it is still a difficult task to secure a standard prescription
from a doctor for marijuana use.
Due to the fact that federal
laws ban the drug, pharmacies are simply not allowed to sell or distribute
marijuana.

In this light, Prop 215 allows
doctors to make recommendations for use of medical marijuana preferably
in writing.
It should be emphasized that a doctor’s recommendation
should not be taken lightly.
If an individual is arrests and charged
with a marijuana-related offense, the doctor would most probably be
required to testify on the individual’s behalf.
As such, the
doctor should be certain about the reasons for the recommendation.

More so, the doctor should be able to monitor carefully the progress
of the individual.
Thus, it is advisable for both patients and
doctors to be cautious in obtaining and making recommendations as well
as in trying to keep them valid.

Many individuals are also confused
on the validity of a doctor’s recommendation.
It should be emphasized
that such recommendation can expire.
The patient is protected
from criminal sanctions for marijuana under Proposition 215 if the physician/marijuana
doctor continues to believe in the efficiency of marijuana for the
patient and that he/she is in charge of the patient’s care.

On the other hand, in the event
that a patient changes his/her doctor or if the doctor changes his/her
opinion on marijuana’s efficiency as a medicine for the patient, Prop
215 can no longer protect the patient.

It had also stated on its plans of a public relations campaign demonstrating
that marijuana has no medicinal use.
The federal government was
prompted to do such measures in response to the passage of initiatives
in some states, particularly in California and Arizona.

According to the federal government’s
memorandum, physicians/marijuana doctors prescribing or recommending
Schedule I substances is inconsistent with the interest of the public;
thus, leads to administrative sanctions by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s
such as revoking the physicians’/marijuana doctors’ registration
or license.
More so, physicians/marijuana doctors may face
criminal prosecution in the event that they do not have a legitimate
doctor-patient relationship upon prescription or recommendation of marijuana.

There have been numerous published
researches that demonstrated the medical usefulness of marijuana.

Without a doubt, it has been stated in the research studies carried
out by different states under FDA protocol that the study being conducted
was in the final phase of approval by the FDA.
As the federal
government stopped the research on the medicinal value of marijuana
in 1992, the drug had almost completed the requirements for new drug
approval.

The assertion of Barry McCaffrey,
drug czar in his Scripps-Howard News Science column that, “No clinical
evidence demonstrates that smoked marijuana is good medicine" is
in contrast with the facts.
Whether such is based on ignorance
or just an intentional deception conceptualized by the federal government’s
state public relations offensive against marijuana is insignificant.

The important issue is that the statements of General McCaffrey in inconsistent
with the facts.

The study included research
using a variety of objective and subjective measurements, randomized,
double-blind, placebo controlled studies, and a range of research protocols.

Physicians/marijuana doctors have a substantial proof to recommend
marijuana for medicinal use by their patients.
Certainly, physicians/marijuana
doctors are well aware of the medicinal value of marijuana.

In fact, a study involving a scientific survey of oncologists have found
out that 48% of the cancer specialists that responded would prescribe
medical marijuana to some of their patients if the drug is legalized.

In addition, more than 44% had reported that they recommended the use
of medical marijuana for the control of vomiting as well as nausea.

Strong scientific evidence
may well prove that medical marijuana is a safe and effectual treatment
for certain types of diseases.
In fact, the voters in California
and Arizona had recognized this when they voted in favor of legalizing
marijuana.
Therefore, it is high time for the federal government
to aid in resolving the issues related to marijuana instead of threatening
physicians/marijuana doctors with sanctions for prescribing or
recommending medical marijuana to their patients and at the same time
depriving seriously ill individuals the access to a more efficient treatment.