Weedpipe
Active Member
We're going to be asked to vote on whether to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Again.
Arizonans already have approved its use twice, but because the language was too broad and because the federal Drug Enforcement Administration said it would prosecute any "prescription" under the federal Controlled Substances Act, it hasn't ever gone into effect in our state.
We hope this initiative effort survives the parsing of the language this time and that voters once again approve the use of marijuana for medical reasons.
The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that California was the first of 14 states to legalize its use in 1996. In response, the NCSL reports on its website that "the Institute of Medicine issued a report that examined potential therapeutic uses for marijuana. The report found that: 'Scientific data indicate the potential therapeutic value of cannabinoid drugs, primarily THC, for pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation.' . . . Further studies have found that marijuana is effective in relieving some of the symptoms of HIV/AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis."
Let's be honest: Most of us probably know someone who has turned to marijuana as a result of the pain, nausea, loss of appetite and other side effects of cancer treatment. And most of us know that medical marijuana use often was a godsend to these suffering patients.
Arizona voters were right when they first approved its use in a ballot initiative in 1996. We hope they do so again.
According to Capitol Medical Services, the new initiative would allow doctors to recommend (not "prescribe") that patients with certain specific conditions receive a card from the state Department of Health Services authorizing them to buy up to 2 1/2 ounces of marijuana every two weeks from a state-regulated, nonprofit dispensary.
The specific conditions that can be treated would include AIDS, side effects of chemotherapy treatments and chronic pain, Capitol Media Services reported.
The Arizona initiative is spearheaded by the Marijuana Policy Project, a national organization that advocates decriminalizing the possession of the drug, Capitol Media reported. There is no organized opposition so far.
And, for the record, the Obama administration last year sent a memo encouraging federal prosecutors not to prosecute those who distribute marijuana "in accordance with state law," the NCSL website said.
This time, we may get it done. We need to, to assure that patients who are suffering have access to every viable option for treatment.
News Forum: rollitup.org
Source: Arizona Daily Star
Contact: Arizona Daily Star
Copyright: 2010, Arizona Daily Star
Website: http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_4440b58d-bd89-520a-a797-d1a984909a0b.html
Arizonans already have approved its use twice, but because the language was too broad and because the federal Drug Enforcement Administration said it would prosecute any "prescription" under the federal Controlled Substances Act, it hasn't ever gone into effect in our state.
We hope this initiative effort survives the parsing of the language this time and that voters once again approve the use of marijuana for medical reasons.
The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that California was the first of 14 states to legalize its use in 1996. In response, the NCSL reports on its website that "the Institute of Medicine issued a report that examined potential therapeutic uses for marijuana. The report found that: 'Scientific data indicate the potential therapeutic value of cannabinoid drugs, primarily THC, for pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation.' . . . Further studies have found that marijuana is effective in relieving some of the symptoms of HIV/AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis."
Let's be honest: Most of us probably know someone who has turned to marijuana as a result of the pain, nausea, loss of appetite and other side effects of cancer treatment. And most of us know that medical marijuana use often was a godsend to these suffering patients.
Arizona voters were right when they first approved its use in a ballot initiative in 1996. We hope they do so again.
According to Capitol Medical Services, the new initiative would allow doctors to recommend (not "prescribe") that patients with certain specific conditions receive a card from the state Department of Health Services authorizing them to buy up to 2 1/2 ounces of marijuana every two weeks from a state-regulated, nonprofit dispensary.
The specific conditions that can be treated would include AIDS, side effects of chemotherapy treatments and chronic pain, Capitol Media Services reported.
The Arizona initiative is spearheaded by the Marijuana Policy Project, a national organization that advocates decriminalizing the possession of the drug, Capitol Media reported. There is no organized opposition so far.
And, for the record, the Obama administration last year sent a memo encouraging federal prosecutors not to prosecute those who distribute marijuana "in accordance with state law," the NCSL website said.
This time, we may get it done. We need to, to assure that patients who are suffering have access to every viable option for treatment.
News Forum: rollitup.org
Source: Arizona Daily Star
Contact: Arizona Daily Star
Copyright: 2010, Arizona Daily Star
Website: http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_4440b58d-bd89-520a-a797-d1a984909a0b.html