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