Pubdate: Sun, 23 May 2010
Source: Marin Independent Journal (CA)
Copyright: 2010 Marin Independent Journal
Contact:  http://www.marinij.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/673
Author: Robert Bundy

LEGALIZE, REGULATE POT

Proposition 215 in 1996 was the camel's nose under the tent for 
legalization of marijuana, but the majority of those voters who 
supported this initiative did not think about how it would be implemented.

I suspect that they felt the compassionate use of marijuana was 
limited to a small number of seriously ill patients, as opposed to 
the explosion of "patients" who are coming out of the woodwork and 
requesting "medicine" for minor or fabricated problems.

They were also unaware of the vast sums of money that can be made as 
a result of growing and dispensing medical marijuana in the present 
relatively unregulated and minimally taxed environment.

Individuals requesting approval to use marijuana can locate a 
sympathetic physician who is in the business of providing a letter, 
which allows the "patient" to obtain marijuana from a medical 
marijuana dispensary.

The result is the vast majority of patients who visit a dispensary 
are utilizing marijuana for social or recreational needs as opposed 
to a medical indication.

Cannabis has proven a benefit in certain chronic pain conditions, but 
this condition exists in only a small number of medical marijuana clients.

The camel is now in the tent and the only way to remove him is to 
legalize marijuana and eliminate the charade of feigned illness and 
physicians having a sideline of providing medical letters to 
individuals who merely want to use marijuana without the fear of arrest.

Prohibition did not work well with alcohol and it is certainly not 
working for marijuana.

Like alcohol, marijuana has significant risk, especially if used by 
teenagers and can result in delayed social and cognitive development.

It should not be used on a daily basis or to excess, but it should be 
legalized and regulated.

Robert Bundy, MD, Corte Madera
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom