Pubdate: Sun, 26 Sep 2010
Source: Billings Gazette, The (MT)
Copyright: 2010 The Billings Gazette
Contact: http://billingsgazette.com/app/contact/?contact=letter
Website: http://www.billingsgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/515
Author: Marshall D. Milton

WITH MARIJUANA, 'MEDICAL' SHOULD BE KEY WORD

As a retired physician relocating to Billings to be with family, I am 
concerned over the ease at which people can acquire cannabis under 
the guise of medical marijuana. Many people seek out a physician, not 
for his expertise in diagnosis and treatment but rather to 
specifically obtain a prescription to acquire a marijuana card. 
Marijuana is most often sought for the symptomatic relief of 
undiagnosed acute and chronic pain or for recreational purposes. 
Sadly, there are some physicians who will proffer these prescriptions 
without doing a proper medical work up. The term medical marijuana 
serves to make the distinction as to whether its use is legal versus 
illegal. It should be remembered that the effects of marijuana on the 
body are the same regardless of whether it is used medically or recreationally.

Medically, the standard of care dictates that a physician, on 
eliciting the patient's primary complaint, takes a detailed medical 
history, followed by a physical examination. Appropriate laboratory 
studies are performed as indicated. On arriving at a diagnosis, a 
treatment plan is formulated consisting of the appropriate modality 
to provide relief or cure. These modalities include surgery, physical 
therapy, prescription medications and alternative therapy. Marijuana 
might be the best choice for a patient, but often other modalities 
offer a better solution. Once the appropriate treatment has been 
determined, follow-up examinations ensure that the patient's response 
to therapy is optimal. If marijuana is used for treatment, its use 
should be dictated by ethical medical professionals.

Marshall D. Milton, M.D.

Billings
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom