Letters to the editor 

Claims against marijuana legislation are distorted

Dr. John T. McDonnell’s pronouncements on the pending medical marijuana legislation (Island Voices, Feb. 28) are so filled with misinformation and distortions that they demand rebuttal.

The proposed legislation does not contravene federal laws against marijuana. It merely calls for the protection of bona fide patients and their doctors from arrest and prosecution by state and county authorities, who are neither expected nor required to enforce federal laws.

Furthermore, contrary to McDonnell’s claim, the proposed law does not allow sale or distribution of marijuana by anyone, including patients.

McDonnell’s references to “prescribing” marijuana suggest that he has not even read the legislation that he denounces. Nowhere is the word “prescribe” used in the bill. Physicians may recommend, but not prescribe, mainly because there is no pharmacy that could fill those prescriptions.

McDonnell stretches the truth when he claims that in the states that have passed similar legislation, doctors will not prescribe marijuana as medicine. Since none of the bills call for “prescription,” that is true. However, numerous doctors in the six states where medical marijuana is legal are recommending this natural herb as medicine in conditions that can be helped by it.

When the doctor asserts that “we don’t really know” whether there are therapeutic uses of marijuana, he ignores a vast scientific literature on the subject, as well as more recent data compiled from personal experiences of thousands of patients. That the scientific studies are “decades old” is true, but only because the DEA has blocked all efforts to conduct studies since 1980. As a surgeon with more than 40 years of experience, I have recommended marijuana where appropriate and have seen its effectiveness.

The claims that “we have many effective drugs to ease suffering ... we know the risks and benefits of taking them. That’s the beauty of our drug approval system ... ” fails to acknowledge that properly administered, FDA-approved prescription drugs kill over 100,000 people each year in the United States while there has never been a reported death from marijuana during its 5,000 years of medicinal use.

People of Hawaii whose pain and nausea can be relieved by marijuana cannot wait to join nonexistent clinical trials. They need relief as well as protection now.

According to a recent poll, 77 percent of registered voters in Hawaii support the proposed medical marijuana bill.

Hopefully, our legislators have the compassion and courage to pass the bill now before them.

William B. Wenner, M.D.
Volcano, Big Island
 

Medical marijuana has too many drawbacks

Medical marijuana is a bad idea for the community, and policing the proposed bill would be problematic for law enforcement.

Initially, most people feel that it is the “compassionate” thing to do — to legalize its use for patients with chronic medical conditions. It certainly is not the responsible thing to do.

Circumventing the regulatory process that all other “medicines” go through is unwise and unsafe. Many patients with chronic, debilitating medical conditions are already using numerous medications, and the drug interactions are uncertain with marijuana.

Marijuana is not a benign substance. It is the fourth most frequently abused drug for which treatment is sought (following alcohol, methamphetamine and cocaine). It is the No. 1 primary drug of abuse for which adolescents sought treatment (1999 Data from the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division, Department of Health). Over 25 percent of the ADA-funded client admissions were admitted with marijuana as the primary substance of abuse.

The Senate bill allows for an adequate supply of up to 10.5 ounces, which equates to nearly 500 marijuana cigarettes. This is excessive and unreasonable.

There’s no mention of how we are going to control quality and quantity, which is very important for a medicine.

“Medical use” as defined in Senate Bill 862, SD 2 and House Bill 1157, HD 2 has within the definition the words “cultivation, distribution, transportation.” There are no requirements for licensing or registration for this group of “medical users.” So, reading between the lines, this essentially legalizes anyone to grow marijuana since there is no registry or control over this group. We strongly oppose the allowance of uncontrolled marijuana cultivation. Diversion into the illicit drug market is certain with these bills.

The primary caregiver (supposedly providing marijuana or assisting in its use) is not required to register in any manner, thereby making it difficult, if not impossible, for law enforcement to verify any “medical use” without inordinate delays.

I believe the bills were intended to be compassionate, but medical experts have stated that we already have as good and better pain-management medications on the market.

For people who feel that marijuana is still the best medicine, the federal government continues to research the feasibility of marijuana as medicine. Alternative delivery systems such as skin patches and inhalers are being explored. Let’s do the responsible thing and be patient for further study.

The appropriate forum for possible medical use is the laboratory, not the Legislature. Irresponsible “medical marijuana” legalization is a poor idea for our community.

Maj. Susan Dowsett
Narcotics/Vice Division
Honolulu Police Department