THE HELPING WEED? MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS VOTED IN, BUT NOW WHAT?

TRAVERSE CITY -- Don't light up yet.

Not all area doctors plan to begin writing prescriptions for medical
marijuana just because Michigan voters said in November that they
can.

"I don't see myself prescribing this unless I saw a way that it was
better implemented," said Karen Meyer, a pain specialist.

Physicians cited dosing and distribution concerns, better familiarity
with available pharmaceuticals and a lack of clear guidelines, so
far, as reasons they may shy from recommending cannabis to their
patients. Still, they acknowledge the popular recreational drug is
likely useful for many who are seriously ill.

Voters overwhelmingly approved Proposal 1 on Nov. 4.

It became law on Dec. 4 and allows doctors to recommend patients to
the Michigan Department of Community Health for identification cards
allowing them to grow marijuana to treat problems including chronic
pain, AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and nail patella.

Under the law, a doctor will recommend a patient apply to the state.
People may also apply to grow it and dispense it to patients as a
legal "caregiver."

Patients will be allowed to begin applying to the state on April
4.

There's one problem. Getting the starter seeds or plants will likely
require an illegal purchase.

"We can not and will not advise on where to get it," Community Health
Department spokesman James McCurtis said.

"That will be something that they will have to decide, but
distributing marijuana is illegal," he added. "We're looking at
somewhat of a gray area and it's going to be challenging for law
enforcement and for attorneys and courts."

That's one thing that bothers retired obstetrician/gynecologist
George Wagoner of Manistee.

Wagoner has been often quoted in support of the new law after giving
it to his late wife Beverly, who died last year of ovarian cancer. He
obtained marijuana for her to treat nausea and vomiting that kept her
from eating. He said two "breaths" from a homemade pipe or four from
a vaporizer eased her symptoms without making her feel high.

Still, he didn't like having to buy it illegally.

"I was forced to break the law," he said. "I didn't like that and my
wife didn't like it."

Meyer and some other physicians have too many reservations to begin
recommending it anytime soon.

Ophthalmologist Robert Foote doesn't plan to use the drug in glaucoma
treatments.

He's read some studies indicating that while pot may relieve some of
the pressure of glaucoma, it may also cause changes in blood pressure
that could cause long-term damage to the eyes.

"I'm usually open-minded," Foote said. "I have people using herbs,
but when it's proven that the herbs don't work, I recommend otherwise."

Other pharmaceutical drugs treat the disease as well or better and
they don't impair the patient's ability to work or drive, he added.

The new statute does not protect patients from employer discipline or
criminal prosecution if they use it while or before working or driving.

Meyer had patients start asking her for prescriptions the day after
the election.

"It puts the doctor in a tight situation, having to decide who should
get this and who shouldn't," she added.

Yet she and proponents of medical marijuana say that's already a
problem with prescription painkillers, particularly opiates like
Oxycontin and Vicodin.

"That's a valid concern," said Dan Bernath, a spokesman for the
Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C.

"Any painkiller has the potential for abuse," he said. "In any
situation like that, it's up to a doctor's medical opinion."

As for dosing concerns, he said patients know very quickly if
marijuana is working or not.

And unlike with opiates, he said marijuana poses "no risk of overdose
death."

"There's never been an incidence of death from overdose of marijuana
in 5,000 years of use," he said. "There's never been a medically
documented case."

What the law does and doesn't do:

- - Allows patients with a doctor's written recommendation to apply to
the state Department of Community Health for an identification card.
The agency will begin taking applications on April 4.

- - Allows possession of up to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana by a
patient or his or her designated "caregiver."

- - Permits the possession of up to 12 plants per patient in an
enclosed, locked area.

The law does not:

- - Require an employer to allow the use of marijuana at
work.

- - Allow people to drive under the influence of marijuana.

- - Require government agencies or private insurers to help pay for
medical marijuana.

- - Allow patients to smoke marijuana in public places.

The state has created a Michigan Medical Marijuana Web site with
questions, answers, forms, legal updates and more. Go to
www.michigan.gov/mdch and click on the medical marijuana link.

Sources: Michigan Department of Community Health and Michigan Secretary of
State.