Pubdate: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 Source: Bozeman Daily Chronicle (MT) Copyright: 2011 The Bozeman Daily Chronicle Contact: http://bozemandailychronicle.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1686 Authors: Charlie and Joel Murdy THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW IS BEING ABUSED IN MONTANA These are the facts of medical marijuana. Medical marijuana already existed. It's the pharmaceutical called Marinol. It was FDA approved in 1985. It is found to relieve nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite associated with cancer and AIDS patients. Studies done by the Institute of Medicines and the National Academy of Sciences shows the active ingredient in Marinol, THC, has potential in treating Alzheimer's, neuropathic pain and damage in MS, Parkinson's, and reducing tics in Tourette syndrome. The University of Mississippi is the nation's only federally approved marijuana plantation. Researchers there do rigorous scientific testing, so far, there is no evidence that marijuana use provides any benefits over current FDA-approved therapies. Marijuana now is 12 to 15 times stronger than marijuana 15 years ago. The Montana Pharmacy Association of professional pharmacists cannot dispense marijuana without FDA approval. Since Dec. 31, 2009, there has been a 167 percent increase in medical marijuana card holders, most claiming to have "chronic pain." This statistic parallels with the rise of teenagers "using." Anyone can go online to get a "doctor's approval" and get a medical marijuana card within five minutes. The Montana Board of Medical Examiners has asked lawmakers to have doctors prescribing medical marijuana to hold to the same standards of care as they would with any other patient or prescription. The medical marijuana initiative was funded and written by a California-based special interest group. In 2010 in Great Falls, the number of teenagers taken to the emergency room rose 136 percent due to marijuana abuse; 98 percent of the teenagers going before juvenile court are due to marijuana-related crimes. Students using marijuana are difficult to educate. Marijuana is still considered an illegal drug by the federal government. Medical marijuana is being abused in Montana. Call, write or e-mail our legislators and the governor. Charlie and Joel Murdy Belgrade - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.