Pubdate: Tue, 22 Oct 2013
Source: Washington Times (DC)
Copyright: 2013 The Washington Times, LLC.
Contact:  http://www.washingtontimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/492
Author: Andrea Noble
Page: A1

LEGALIZED MEDICAL POT NOT POPULAR

Dispensaries Note Hassles

The District's medical marijuana program has enrolled just 59 
patients since the first city dispensary opened for business in July 
- - far below estimates for participation.

Operators of cultivation centers and dispensaries and their potential 
customers told the D.C. Council on Monday that the city's strict 
policies have stifled the program's growth by severely limiting who 
is eligible to receive medical marijuana. They also said patients and 
doctors remain fearful of breaking federal law by participating.

"We believe that far too few D.C. physicians understand the benefits 
of medical marijuana," said Rabbi Jeffrey Kahn, who operates the 
Takoma Wellness Center dispensary in Northwest.

Testifying Monday at the council's Health Roundtable on Medical 
Marijuana, advocates suggested that to help the program succeed the 
council needs to change regulations that allow medical marijuana to 
be prescribed to treat only four illnesses - HIV/AIDS, cancer, 
glaucoma, and conditions characterized by severe and persistent 
muscle spasms such as multiple sclerosis.

Officials from the District's Department of Health initially thought 
they might be overwhelmed by demand for medical marijuana.

"We were prepared to see up to 200 to 300 patients showing up into 
our offices," said Feseha Woldu, a senior deputy director at the D.C. 
Department of Health. "That did not happen."

In a November 2010 fiscal impact statement from the District's chief 
financial officer, officials estimated that 800 patients would 
qualify and be registered to use medical marijuana and the number 
would increase 50 percent each year for the first five years.

An onerous application process and difficulties finding doctors who 
will prescribe medical marijuana also have complicated the process, 
would-be patients and advocates said.

To prove her point, Steph Sherer, of the medical marijuana advocacy 
nonprofit Americans for Safe Access, unfurled the lengthy medical 
marijuana application packet that patients must complete. Though she 
has dystonia, a neurological movement disorder that causes pain and 
spasms, Ms. Sherer said, her doctor wouldn't attempt to prescribe 
medical marijuana because her illness is not one of the four 
specifically outlined in the regulations.

"My physician didn't want to even try," Ms. Sherer said. "It's not 
listed. She doesn't want to get put on a list for no reason if I'm 
not even going to qualify."

The Department of Health tracks the number of medical marijuana 
recommendations made by doctors, and anyone who provides more than 
250 recommendations in a calendar year is audited.

"Anything that is going to add to the hassle of putting their license 
in jeopardy, they are going to push off onto someone else," said Dan 
Riffle, the Marijuana Policy Project's federal policy director.

The city is still in the process of forming a medical marijuana 
advisory committee, which would review petitions for the approval of 
additional qualifying medical conditions and could make other 
recommendations to change the city's policies.

"Maybe if we can make the physicians more comfortable, and then the 
advisory committee recommending more conditions, then I think we can 
be where we need to be," said Dr. Woldu, adding that only 62 
physicians have requested patient recommendation order forms, which 
are required before a patient can receive medical marijuana.

Some advocates who spoke Monday suggested that the D.C. Council enact 
legislation that would add other qualifying conditions to those for 
which medical marijuana is allowed while others maintain that the 
government has no business deciding which illnesses should qualify 
and would like it left up to doctors and patients. About half of the 
D.C. patients who have received medical marijuana cards have 
HIV/AIDS, according to the Department of Health.

The city has worked cautiously to develop its regulations - among the 
strictest in the country - to guide an industry still considered 
illegal by the federal government. D.C. voters supported a medical 
marijuana program in 1998, only to have it held up by a congressional 
rider known as the Barr Amendment until 2009.

Dr. Woldu noted that the District's program is under great scrutiny 
because it is in the nation's capital and home to federal lawmakers 
and agencies.

"We are not far from the attorney general's office and other offices, 
and we want to make sure we are running an airtight program," he 
said. "The continuity of the program is much more important for us. 
We want to make sure the program is sustainable and has a future."

Four medical marijuana dispensaries and six cultivation centers were 
given approval to operate in the District, but not all have been able 
to open for business. Given the dearth of patients, there doesn't 
seem to be a big hurry.

"All medical marijuana businesses are operating at a loss," said 
David Guard, of Capital City Care dispensary which operates in Northeast.

Bob Simmons, of the cultivation center Alternative Solutions, said he 
fears for the future of the program as a result of the slow business.

"So far, all we have been doing is bleeding cash," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom