Pubdate: Thu, 19 Nov 2015
Source: Tucson Weekly (AZ)
Column: MMJ Opinion
Copyright: 2015 Tucson Weekly
Contact:  http://www.tucsonweekly.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/462
Author: Aari Ruben

DURING EPILEPSY AWARENESS MONTH, LET'S REMIND OURSELVES WHY 
LEGALIZATION IS IMPORTANT

November is epilepsy awareness month and that is cause for 
celebration in the cannabis world because cannabis has been shown to 
be a safe, effective and far less toxic treatment option when 
compared to the usual allopathic anticonvulsants. This is 
accomplished through the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties 
found in the cannabinoids and terpenoids that are the major active components.

These compounds help to turn down the music for many who suffer from 
epileptic conditions. With cannabis they are able to live fuller 
lives, without their development being interfered with by pills.

For some who are dependent on these treatments the Arizona Medical 
Marijuana Act provides a narrow exception to the Controlled 
Substances Act allowing them to possess the cannabis and cannabis 
infused products that give them a better life. There are barriers to 
entry into this legal market, which make participation difficult for 
some. Because of heavy handed taxation and regulation, cost of the 
products to the consumer is high, no pun intended. A patient must 
maintain their patient status year by year, with a renewal fee to the 
state and a visit to the doctor providing the recommendation. This 
can be too expensive or cumbersome a process for some patients in need.

The AMMA also has a very limited set of approved conditions for an 
Arizona marijuana recommendation. Many people who might benefit from 
cannabis are left out of the program. The Arizona Cannabis Nurses 
Association filed for eight new conditions to be added to the program 
but the Department of Health Services denied all eight without public 
hearing or comment. Surely the AZCNA will appeal as they did when 
PTSD was denied in the same abrupt way a few years ago.

Other patients languish in limbo as well, unable to participate for 
other reasons. The many who are here without papers or proper 
identification are also unable to get a medical marijuana card, 
regardless of how much they might be willing to pay for it. Aren't 
those humans entitled to be able to safe legal access to 
high-quality, lab-tested cannabis if that is the treatment that works 
best for them?We need to legalize cannabis in Arizona, and eventually 
the U.S. to eliminate these barriers. There are multiple ballot 
initiatives being circulated and there is much infighting among the 
parties. The best-funded initiative is being promoted by the 
Marijuana Policy Project and it is largely criticized as being far 
too limiting a law by Arizonans for Mindful Regulation.

I am strongly in favor of the more permissive initiative promoted by 
the AZFMR. Many that represent the AZFMR feel that the MPP initiative 
does more harm than good, if the MPP bill sits alone on the ballot in 
November 2016 they will lobby against their own issue for fear that 
the MPP law gives the cannabis industry to big business and the 
industrial prison complex on a silver platter.

I do not support the idea that the MPP law does more harm than good. 
It is my hope that in the event the AZFMR initiative does not qualify 
for the ballot, that the MPP bill will prevail so that the people of 
Arizona, who do not already qualify for the AMMA, may care for 
themselves and their families, and that the market might mature to 
give widespread access to high quality products at a more reasonable price.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom