SpiralArchitect

Marijuana Law Under Review
12/10/2008|The Times Herald|Stephen Tait

Dr. Timothy Cox said he is opposed to the new state law that allows people suffering from certain diseases to smoke marijuana.

He said other medicine, such as Marinol, offers the same benefits as marijuana but with results that can be more easily controlled.

QUESTIONS: Tom Mountain legally smokes marijuana prescribed to him in Hawaii for back pain. As in Michigan, in Hawaii those diagnosed with debilitating illnesses now legally use and possess marijuana but cannot legally buy it. (Gannett News Service)

"If they smoke (marijuana) we don't know how much are they actually getting and how much of it is going up in smoke," he said.

Regardless, Cox said he will prescribe the drug to patients who request it as a way to stimulate hunger and fight nausea.

"What I try to do is everything I can to help my patients," said Cox, who sees about 100 cancer patients a week at Blue Water Oncology in Port Huron. "And if it means prescribing marijuana to see if it helps, then fine, I'll do it."

Cox is not alone.

Other doctors in the area said there is interest in the drug and that they will prescribe the drug if appropriate for patients. A county health professional also said there is an expectation of strong interest in using pot to help treatment.

Michigan voters approved an amendment in November to allow residents with certain diseases -- cancer, HIV, AIDS, glaucoma and others -- to use marijuana. Patients who qualify can register with the state and receive identification cards allowing them to legally acquire, possess, grow, transport and use a limited amount of marijuana.

Some parts of the law, which officially was put on Michigan's books last week, remain hazy.

But most professionals, such as Cox, said the details will get worked out by the Department of Community Health ahead of its April 4 deadline.

Sue Amato, director of health education for St. Clair County Health Department, said her department manages an HIV/AIDS program that helps link patients to community services.

Many of the program's 40 participants probably will be interested in getting a prescription for marijuana, she said.

"They've already started to ask us about it and because our program has dealt with clients in the category for so long, we know it is an item of interest to them," she said.

Dr. Brian Favero, who runs Port Huron Ophthalmology on River Street, said in an
e-mail that patients with glaucoma have asked about the medicinal marijuana and that some will use it.

He said from his standpoint, marijuana provides "an initial benefit" but that "tolerance is quickly achieved and the beneficial effect of the marijuana is lost."

Favero said he is "not absolute" on whether he will prescribe marijuana, but said if he can "isolate what it is, in the marijuana that (helps with side effects of glaucoma) on a consistent basis, then the answer is yes."

"For some it is a benefit, and others, all they are doing is smoking," he said in the e-mail. "And we know smoking in general is not a good thing."

Identification cards for patients won't be issued until next year after the state Department of Community Health introduces guidelines addressing how applications will be handled, what fees will be charged and other issues.

Until then, anyone possessing marijuana can be arrested and prosecuted, although the law allows patients to use a medical-justification defense at trial.

Michigan, the 13th state to allow medicinal use of marijuana, doesn't address how patients can obtain it: It's illegal to sell marijuana, even to registered patients.

Port Huron police Capt. Jim Jones said he isn't concerned about how the law will be implemented and doesn't anticipate problems with the new law.

"I think we are going to handle it as the law dictates that we handle it," he said.

Between now and April 4, Jones said he'll treat cases of people found with marijuana for medicinal use on an individual basis.

"Every case that comes our way will certainly have to be investigated, and every case is different," he said.

Still, Jones said there is some concern about making such a drug more available.

"We certainly have concerns," he said. "Marijuana is an inebriant, and any time an inebriant becomes more accessible, we have concerns about people driving."

Jones said even those with medical cards cannot drive under the influence of marijuana.

"We always act in accordance with the law and trying to enforce the law," he said.

Victor_vicious

Wow, this is one of the first semi-positive article I have seen. I suspect it was when thc Foundation opened up in our State last week and they had a full schedule the first day. The proposed rules are available at the MDCH website, there is a public hearing on those proposed rules January 5th, 2009, details are on the website, we intend to be there to address our concerns. VV

LowRider

hopefully they allow ya'll to have a certain amount of plants without a weight limit of cured bud. i would love to see a state pass a provision like this. its common sense.

marcusJay

And here lies the problem. This is a major roadblock.

Buzzby

My understanding is that you quickly develop a tolerance to the intoxicating effects, but that doesn't interfere with the medical benefits. Do we have any glaucoma patients who can verify or discredit that?

Marijuana can be vaped or included in foods, eliminating the need to smoke it.

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