Pubdate: Fri, 04 Dec 2009
Source: Arizona Daily Wildcat (AZ Edu)
Copyright: 2009 Arizona Daily Wildcat
Contact:  http://wildcat.arizona.edu/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/725
Author: Michelle Cohen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

TUCSON HOSTS TALKS ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Symposium Addresses Legalizing Pot For Medicinal Use

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy hosted a  discussion
with national medical experts on the  legalization of medical
marijuana Thursday as part of a  two-day symposium.

Five medical specialists, including Kevin Sabet,  special advisor for
policy and strategic planning for  the Office of National Drug Control
Policy, discussed  whether medical marijuana should be legal.

The goal of the event, held at the JW Marriott Starr  Pass Resort and
Spa, 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd., "is to  raise awareness about various
issues of medical  development regarding marijuana and to discuss the
experience of states and cities trying to wrestle  around these
complicated issues," Sabet said.

Sabet added that "medical marijuana is an enormously  complex
issue."

He said medical marijuana contains over 500 chemical  compounds, some
of which are still unknown, and needs  further research.

"Medicine is best determined by scientific process, not  by the ballot
box," he said. "There's certainly more  research than there ever has
been and we encourage that  scientific process to move forward."

Alice Mead, director of United States professional  relations for GW
Pharmaceuticals, agreed with Sabet  that more research needs to be
done.

"Certainly we need more research," she said. "Patients  need to be
under the close supervision of physicians  and pharmacists."

Caren Woodson, director of government affairs for  Americans for Safe
Access, said she would like medical  marijuana to be removed from it's
current  classification as a "schedule 1" drug because medical
marijuana can help patients.

A "schedule 1" drug is one that has been determined to  have a high
potential of abuse and is not accepted for  medical use, Sabet said.

"We believe cannabis should be a legal option," she  said. "We
represent patients. I think the perspective  that often gets lost is
the patient's. Patients should  have a safe way to access this
information." 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D