Pubdate: Tue, 07 Apr 2015
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Copyright: 2015 The Seattle Times Company
Contact:  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/409
Author: Ryan Day
Note: Ryan Day is a former Marine and an advocate for children's health.

LAWMAKERS MUST PROTECT MEDICAL-MARIJUANA PATIENTS

MY son Haiden is 6 years old. For him, access to medical cannabis is 
a matter of life-and-death.

Haiden has Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy. Haiden used to 
suffer from frequent seizures of all varieties - sometimes more than 
100 a day, despite taking five prescription medications, all at the 
maximum dose our neurologist would allow.

Today, Haiden receives two daily doses of medical cannabis with 100 
milligrams of cannabidiol, also called CBD. His medicine has almost 
no THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. It has dramatically 
transformed my son, and by extension our entire family.

In November 2013, Haiden lost the ability to use language. Today, he 
has gained it all back and is learning new words. We used to go to 
the ER at least once a month for the seizures his rescue medication 
could not stop. Since he started using CBD, we have not had to use 
any rescue medications for Haiden and he has not been to the ER once.

Most important, before medical cannabis Haiden was confined to spaces 
we could control - mostly dark rooms and low levels of stimulation. 
In the past month, he has been spending some beautiful days outside 
digging, climbing and making a mess wherever he could, just like a 
little boy should.

Haiden, and thousands like him, must continue to have reliable access 
to safe and consistent medical cannabis.

As state lawmakers refine our state's marijuana laws, I ask them not 
to lose sight of medical cannabis patients like Haiden.

It's fair to wonder whether there is a need at all for medical dispen-

Ryan Day and his son, Haiden saries in a state where recreational 
marijuana is now legal. But recreational stores are prohibited from 
discussing therapeutic qualities of cannabis. They don't carry 
cannabis high in CBD and low in THC because there is no recreational 
value. Their business model isn't designed to help patients like 
Haiden live a more normal life.

However, there are also many medical dispensaries that operate much 
like a doctor's office, meeting the health needs of patients like Haiden.

They provide patients with formal, one-on-one consultations in a 
private setting and develop individualized treatment plans that 
reflect a wide range of variables, including a patient's specific 
type of ailment, weight, dietary restrictions, potency, dosage and more.

They also ensure that patients have access to appropriate 
medications, in medically specific forms like creams, tinctures and 
suppositories.

Simply put, patients have unique needs that require a unique channel 
for accessing their medicine beyond what recreational stores can offer.

Our state needs a system that recognizes and regulates separate 
access channels for recreational users and for medical patients.

As a patient caregiver, I believe a sound regulatory framework for 
medical cannabis should include:

Standards for medicalgrade cannabis: Cannabis is considered a 
last-line treatment. By the time patients turn to medical cannabis, 
many have compromised immune systems. All medical cannabis should 
meet the highest quality standards and it should all be tested for safety.

Licensing: We license pharmacies to ensure that they are properly 
equipped and following the standards necessary to care for patients; 
cannabis should be no different. Legitimate providers should have an 
opportunity to move into the new system to continue serving patients.

Patient registry: Every state with legal medical cannabis has a 
patient registry except Washington. A database of patients would 
improve the quality of care for patients and can ensure that patients 
don't pay taxes on medicine. This is a reasonable requirement to 
prevent fraud and abuse.

These are three ways lawmakers can ensure that medical cannabis 
remains safe, available and consistent for patients who rely on it to 
survive, like my son Haiden.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom