Pubdate: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 Source: Boston Herald (MA) Copyright: 2014 The Boston Herald, Inc Contact: http://news.bostonherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53 Note: Prints only very short LTEs. Author: Priyanka Dayal McCluskey MEDICAL SOCIETY DOC QUESTIONS MEDICAL VALUE OF MARIJUANA A top doctor blasted Massachusetts' medical marijuana law and questioned the medicinal value of the substance yesterday as state officials gave approval to 20 pot shops. "As the state opens this new chapter in public health, the Massachusetts Medical Society must remind patients of the Commonwealth that there is insufficient scientific information about the safety of marijuana when used for 'medicinal' purposes," Dr. Ronald Dunlap, society president, said in a statement. He added that marijuana hasn't been thoroughly tested by the Food and Drug Administration, and said it poses potential health risks, especially to young patients. Dunlap told the Herald he also worries that some doctors' offices will end up rubber-stamping patients' weed requests. "I think there's going to be an industry to certify in and of itself," he said. Dunlap, a cardiologist in Weymouth, also echoed the concern of some public safety officials who say the drug will "leak" to people who aren't authorized to use it. "It could be a public health problem," he said, "especially if it gets in the hands of children." Under state law, physicians will have to certify patients' requests for marijuana to treat pain and other conditions. The DPH will track patients who use marijuana in an online database. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom