Pubdate: Fri, 18 Jul 2014
Source: Recorder, The (MA)
Copyright: 2014 The Recorder
Contact:  http://www.recorder.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1542
Author: Steven S. Epstein

DISPENSARY DELAYS

The law commanded the agency to have at least one treatment center
open and serving patients in each county by early last winter. The law
is also explicit that until treatment centers are open, qualified
patients with a recommendation or their designated caregiver
registered with the department may obtain marijuana from the "black
market" or grow; clearly, an incentive for prompt compliance by the
department with its duties.

The department is fiddling and diddling in its duty to register
treatment centers. Meanwhile it objects to caregivers with the ability
to get marijuana for patients to do so for more than one patient. It
is blind to the fact that most patients do not have the ability to
grow or otherwise get the variety of the herb they need "on just
about every busy street corner or side alley in the commonwealth."

An herb that makes them feel better and happier by reducing or
eliminating their consumption of prescription drugs that are less
effective at treating their conditions and have unpleasant and
potentially deadly side effects. Some now think it is even money that
the state's prohibition will be repealed before the first treatment
center opens.

Steven S. Epstein
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt