cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Law Yet to Realize Potential 





Medical Marijuana Law Yet to Realize Potential 
Posted by CN Staff on July 29, 2002 at 08:03:59 PT
By Timothy Hurley, Advertiser Maui Bureau
Source: Honolulu Advertiser
When Hawai'i became the first state to enact a medical marijuana law, legislators were praised for their progressive stance on a highly controversial issue. But two years later, the state's Medical Marijuana Program has yet to realize its full potential.Criticized by mainstream doctors, in conflict with federal law and held in low regard by many law enforcement officials, the program continues to tip-toe around the forces that opposed its enactment in the first place.
Recent arrests of medical marijuana patients on the Big Island illustrate the problems that can occur when the program crosses paths with police more accustomed to battling marijuana in the war on drugs than upholding a law allowing limited use.Government regulators and those who promote the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes agree the law is flawed and that changes are needed.They just don't agree on which changes.While regulators are hoping to add more restrictions, patients and other advocates contend the program needs to open up for greater use."A lot of people need help — tens of thousands need help — but they aren't getting it," said Roger Christie, a longtime marijuana advocate on the Big Island.Limited populationUnder the law, only patients with a "debilitating medical condition" — such as cancer, glaucoma, AIDS or other chronic conditions that cause severe pain, nausea or seizures — can possess and grow marijuana for medical purposes.Patients need a yearly statement from a doctor to qualify for registration with the state Department of Public Safety. They are limited to three mature marijuana plants, four immature marijuana plants and one ounce of usable marijuana per mature plant.So far, 626 patients have signed up for the program statewide. But of the hundreds of physicians qualified to certify medicinal use of marijuana, only 48 are participating."A lot of people who need it just can't find a doctor," said Tom Mountain, who runs the nonprofit Honolulu Medical Marijuana Patients' Co-op.The Hawai'i Medical Association, which fought the medical marijuana bill two years ago, continues to oppose the program, said Dr. Gerald McKenna, a Kaua'i addictionist who is HMA president.McKenna said there isn't enough controlled data on the effectiveness of marijuana as a pain reliever, while there is data on the harmful effects of smoking marijuana, which contains most of the harmful substances found in tobacco smoke."It would be almost malpractice to recommend it," he said.Another reason doctors aren't participating is fear their federal narcotics license will be taken away, since marijuana is illegal under federal law.However, Bill Wenner, a Kaiser doctor who handles most of the medical marijuana recommendations on the Big Island — 270 — noted that the federal court had ruled that physicians handling medical marijuana cases in states where it is legal do not have to worry.Wenner, a former addictionist, called the attitude of HMA officers "prehistoric." He said marijuana is effective and quite benign.Snipped: Complete Article: http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2002/Jul/29/ln/ln06a.htmlSource: Honolulu Advertiser (HI)Author: Timothy Hurley, Advertiser Maui BureauPublished: Monday, July 29, 2002 Copyright: 2002 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.Contact: letters honoluluadvertiser.comWebsite: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Roger Christie's Home Pagehttp://www.thereligionofjesuschurch.org Medical Marijuana Defendants Sue Police http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13545.shtmlMayor Approves County Pot Regulations http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13516.shtmlKim Signs Medical Pot Rules http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13486.shtml 
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Comment #4 posted by Rev Jonathan Adler on July 30, 2002 at 15:24:55 PT:
Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute/ Since 5/96
Aloha, In may of 1996 we were priviledged to open up the first public Medical Marijuana Service in Hawaii. We were successful at Public Access TV where we presented 18 two hour special education programs in Hilo and Knna. We offered a legal source for sacramental and medical users and advertised openely in our local paper three years ago or more. We attended the Governor's Blue Ribbon Cancer therapy meetings and the Top Cops Conference; Partnerships in Community Polcing. I was arrested and tried twice for the same alleged crime which turned out to be a crime by the Police. I am running for Governor here to fix the problems with the Medical Marijuana Program and the laws. Thanks to Rev. Roger Christie and others here who continue to stand up with me for our rights to religiously and medically use cannabis in Hawaii legally and without disruption by Police. Thanks again. Rev. Jonathan Adler Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute
Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute
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Comment #3 posted by Roger Christie on July 30, 2002 at 03:47:12 PT:
 We use cannabis religiously and you can, too.
Dear Friends,Aloha. Those who see value in cultivating and using cannabis for maintaining good health, or for recovery and remission, and who do NOT qualify for any state med-pot programs can explore the First Amendment right to choose cannabis as religious sacrament. Medicinal benefits of the remarkable herb come with religious use of cannabis, automatically. There are zero fearful and malpracticing doctors to beg for a note,
zero negative prayers needed for a condition severe enough to qualify, and zero limited state schemes and government workers to bother with. It can be so easy... once you know the way.The Andrews' test of State v. Blake holds true for religious use of cannabis sacrament. A believer must be sincere, legitimate, use of the sacrament must be mandatory, and, I would add, grow and use it in private at home. Becoming an ordained minister online at 
www.ulc.org and joining a cannabis ministry or starting one will improve your chances of demonstrating your sincerity and legitimacy if you ever need to. In my opinion, anyone over 18 years old can enjoy cannabis religiously with the right stuff in place. Enjoy.
 
 * The Hawai'i Cannabis Ministry *
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Comment #2 posted by freddybigbee on July 29, 2002 at 09:52:07 PT:
MM in Maine
Maine has a medical marijuana law that specifies glaucoma as an applicable condition. When I asked my opthalmologist about using cannabis to control my glaucoma, he informed me that it isn't proven to work and that it only works for a few unusual cases. In other words, he's afraid of being busted by the feds or ostracised by the medical community.Instead of the state law telling me I can't use preventive medicine on my condition, now the medical cops tell me instead. Nothing changes.This is why repeal of prohibition is the only answer; anything less is subject to fraud from govt. and medical vegetable police. Why is fraud so common in the US?
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Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo MD on July 29, 2002 at 09:32:21 PT:
Whoa, Dude
"It would be almost malpractice to recommend it," he said.This is patently absurd. At worst, the side effect profile of cannabis is the same as Marinol, aside from pulmonary issues. There has been no observed addiction or diversion of Marinol, and it was thus put down to Schedule III. As we've repeatedly indicated, the seqeulae of cannabis smoking have been overblown: no lung cancer, and no emphysema from cannabis only smoking. NIDA cannabis remains of poor quality and is dirty: http://www.montananorml.org/docs/ChronicCannabisUseStudy.pdfAdditionally, people do not have to smoke their medicine. Vaporization, oral use, and sublingual extracts remain viable options for the clinical cannabis patient.Any physician suggesting cannabis should engage in an informed consent discussion with the prospective patient. As with any drug, the benefits should ourweigh the risks. If such a discussion occurs, that is "normal practice." 
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