Medical Marijuana/HB-291
by Mike McDermott
There are multiple marijuana bills facing the General Assembly this year. They range from decriminalization to the use of the drug as medicine. As with most bills presented, none of them are perfect. For bills which have problem areas, many can be made better with amendments. Such is the case with HB-291, dealing with the application of marijuana as a medicine.
On the surface, the bill has mixed reviews. Many fear the end result witnessed in California, where the application is laughable. That does not mean there is no place for the potential use of marijuana as a medicine. In fact, the active ingredient in marijuana, THC, has been available in pill form (Marinol), and many find relief from some of their suffering through the use of Marinol. However, there are other patients who do not receive that same relief from the pill form.
For those who must inhale to gain relief, vaporization of marijuana is the most effective and medically clean method of receiving relief. Vaporization eliminates the need to “smoke” marijuana and the ingestion of many harmful carcinogens from that process. The sponsor of HB-291, is Delegate Morhaim, who coincidentally is a medical doctor. My research and conversations with medical professionals, such as Delegate Morheim, have led me to offer an amendment to the current bill which would require that marijuana be received into the body through “vaporization, ingestion, pill, or injection”. This would truly constitute “medical” usage of marijuana. Dosage can be properly measured, and, in the case of vaporization, the relief supplied is vastly multiplied to the patient minus the harmful effects of smoking the drug. Many are simply unfamiliar with vaporization.
My proposed amendment would also allow for any future medical devices which may be created for better vaporization or ingestion of marijuana as a medicine. If this is truly a “medical” bill, the amendment would insure that it is viewed by patient and public as a medical issue. Furthermore, vaporization would eliminate any second hand smoking occurring in a residence. Surely this should be a concern for the problems associated with smoking the marijuana indoors as is generally required by the current bill.
Very Sincerely,
Mike McDermott, Delegate
3 comments:
My wife suffers from MS. The pain associated with her condition is intense. She uses various patches and oral medications, all opiates, to control her discomfort.
Her Docs just keep raising her dosage as she builds tolerance to these medications.
Many MS sufferers report anecdotal pain relief from the use of marijuana but, as a retired police officer, I will not consider having an illegal drug in my home much less allow her to break the law by using un-prescribed drugs of any kind.
Should the drug that Mike refers to be allowed in our state, I'm sure that it's something that we would be interested in to make her life more comfortable.
Thank you, Mike, for researching this and for your level headed approach to this issue.
Craig Theobald
Ironshire
Non-medical MJ was de-criminalized in California as of Jan. 1st...up to 1oz is civil penalty , and a fine not to exceed $100 for the 1st offense. I haven't read of any mass murders yet, or any jump in teen suicide rates due the evil weed....but, I'll let you know if I do.
Sorry to hear about your wife. I understand how you feel about the pot issue but if it would help her pain who would say anything negative? Certainly not me.
Either way I respect your decision.
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