Pubdate: Sat, 20 Feb 2010
Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI)
Copyright: 2010 Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Contact: http://archives.starbulletin.com/forms/letterform.html
Website: http://www.starbulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/196
Referenced: The report http://www.cmcr.ucsd.edu/CMCR_REPORT_FEB17.pdf
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Center+for+Medicinal+Cannabis+Research
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?253 (Cannabis - Medicinal - U.S.)

PROVEN MEDICAL REMEDY MUST BE MORE ACCESSIBLE

The first U.S. clinical trials in more than two decades on the 
medical effectiveness of marijuana have determined it is capable of 
reducing muscle spasms and pain. The conclusion should lead to 
changes making it available to patients in Hawaii so they will not 
have to buy marijuana on the black market.

The Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at the University of 
California, funded with nearly $9 million by the state of California 
for the past 10 years, confirmed that marijuana is effective in 
reducing muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis and pain 
caused by certain neurological injuries or illnesses.

Volunteers were randomly given marijuana and placebos in some of the 
studies to determine actual relief. In one study, rats that were 
given vaporized cannabis exhibited reduced activity of nerve cells, 
indicating it could be helpful in treating migraine headaches and facial pain.

California and Hawaii are among 14 states that have legalized 
marijuana for medical purposes. More than 5,700 patients in Hawaii 
have registered with the state to use medical marijuana. However, 
while California has been trying to cope with nearly 1,000 medical 
marijuana dispensaries, creating what some have called a carnival 
atmosphere, Hawaii has none.

The George W. Bush administration won a court battle upholding a 
federal law classifying marijuana as an illicit drug with no medical 
use, allowing prosecution of people for using pot for medical 
purposes. The Obama administration has chosen not to pursue such prosecutions.

Gov. Linda Lingle has insisted on adhering to the federal law. She 
vetoed a bill last year that would have created a task force to find 
a way for patients to obtain marijuana legally. When the Legislature 
overrode her veto, she chose not to create the task force. Instead, 
Sen. Will Espero, who sponsored the task force bill, asked 
representatives of nongovernmental groups included in the bill to do 
the work as the Medical Cannabis Working Group.

The group issued a report this month proposing creation of a 
marijuana distribution system for patients, increases in the maximum 
number of plants and marijuana amounts a patient may possess, 
allowing doctors to care for at least five patients to assure them 
adequate supplies and transferring the program from the Department of 
Public Safety to the Department of Health.

The working group also recommends that the Legislature ensure patient 
confidentiality -- state officials released patients' names and 
addresses to a Hilo newspaper in 2008 -- and "presumptive eligibility 
. so that a patient with completed paperwork is assumed to be 
certified pending determination" by the state agency.

Legislators have strongly supported the state's medical marijuana 
law. The working group notes that Lingle's veto of the task force 
legislation was overridden unanimously by the Senate and by a 38-9 
vote in the House. A bill to create a distribution system should be 
enacted with the expectation that a veto will fail again and the next 
governor will implement the new law. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake