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POT PANACEA?

State Politicians Considering Legalization Of Marijuana

This is the second story in a series of ongoing articles exploring various aspects of illegal drugs and their use in the United States. 

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

The debate about medical marijuana isn't quite as divided as the debate about overall legalization, but it is still a somewhat polarizing issue.  Twelve states have followed the lead of California and adopted legislation to make marijuana available to patients in need and New York may be the next state to do the same. 

Currently, New York State politicians are considering a piece of legislation ( S-4041A ) that would legalize marijuana for medicinal use in accordance with the recommendations of a medical professional, and different people have different opinions about that. 

Jamestown Police Chief Rex Rater discussed the issue with The Post-Journal recently, and said that although he is against the general legalization of marijuana, he may be open to the idea of medically prescribed marijuana use. 

"I philosophically object to the overall legalization of marijuana and believe that decriminalization has gone as far as it should," Rater said.  "But if I had a terminally ill loved one who had a limited time left on this Earth, and the doctor told me that it would ease their pain, I would not object.  I'm not a doctor and don't know if it would help, but if the doctor told me it would, I'd support it."

Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace said that he isn't in favor of medical marijuana, and he believes that there are better alternatives available to ill people. 

"My gut reaction is that there are other substances which are FDA approved which are a better tool than giving someone pot," he said.  "I just don't believe it is a good idea."

Dan Bernath, the assistant director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project, a Washington-based lobbying firm, said that the medicinal use of marijuana can make a difference in the lives of ill people and that its benefits outweigh any downsides. 

"It's not a question as to whether marijuana is right for every patient, it's more about giving a doctor a full range of tools to choose from to treat their patients," Bernath said.  "For some patients, a manufactured pill may be the best bet but not all drugs affect everyone the same, and for many people, marijuana simply works better with less side effects."

TO EACH STATE THEIR OWN

Each state has the ability to make its own decision about the issue, but as California learned under the Bush Administration, federal agencies retain the right to raid distribution centers and growing operations and sometimes incarcerate terminally ill patients in the process, all to enforce federal laws. 

"When Obama was campaigning, he had said several times that it was a waste of federal money and resources to go after medical marijuana states with the Drug Enforcement Administration," Bernath said.  "And recently, Attorney General Eric Holder vowed to end raids on medical marijuana clubs in those states, which is a big change in policy from the previous administration."

The 180 degree turn in attitude toward a state's right to choose was characterized by Bernath as a "sign of respect," although Obama did say that if state and federal laws are being violated in s similar situation, it would warrant the use of federal resources. 

"California is a different kind of animal with the way their medical marijuana law is worded.  Their law is much looser and only 11 lines long, compared to the New York bill which is about 11 pages long," Bernath said.  "New York follows the lead of the 12 other states and builds upon a 15-year success record.  Unlike California, the other states who legalized medical marijuana have never really had a major problem with federal interference.  The New York bill is very detailed and concise, and it truly protects the patients from arrest and limits potentials for abuse."

MARIJUANA AND OTHER DRUGS

One argument against legalizing marijuana for medical use revolves around the plant being smoked, as the health risks from smoking cigarettes are well documented and a popular point of comparison.  But the jury is still out as to whether marijuana smoke is not as bad as cigarette smoke or much worse, as there are studies funded by different groups with very different conclusions. 

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana smoke contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke, but not every study draws the same conclusions. 

Bernath said that the debate about smoking marijuana is dated, since there are a variety of different delivery methods a patient can choose with their doctor's recommendation. 

He explained that a vaporizer offers patients a clean delivery method, as no combustion takes place. 

"With a vaporizer, the marijuana is heated to the point where the cannabinoids are released and inhaled in a vapor," he said.  "It is a clean delivery method as no ignition or combustion takes place and the effect is immediate, like with smoking."

Cannabinoids are a group of substances or compounds found in marijuana, some of which are known to provide the medical benefits advocates argue for. 

Marinol, a legal pharmaceutical derivative of marijuana, is basically a synthetic THC, which is the main psychoactive substance in the plant.  It has been prescribed to patients with cancer and AIDS in an effort to stimulate appetite and decrease nausea. 

While some schools of thought feel that marinol is as far as American society should go toward using the cannabis plant for medical applications, Bernath said that there is a bigger picture to look at. 

"THC is only one cannabinoid and there are at least 60 others which in combination bring different therapeutic benefits," he said.  "Plus, it's difficult for chemotherapy patients to keep a pill down, so many just struggle through the terrible nausea and vomiting."

Doctors may be the most-qualified people to decide whether marijuana does indeed hold a positive medical potential, and there are a slew of them on each side of the equation.  As Bernath himself said, each drug on Earth has its side effects and marijuana is no exception. 

But when it comes to weighing out the pros and cons between marijuana and other treatment options, there is a real possibility that doctors in New York will soon be the ones making the decisions.