PROVEN MEDICAL REMEDY MUST BE MORE ACCESSIBLE

The first U.S. clinical trials in more than two decades on the
medical effectiveness of marijuana have determined it is capable of
reducing muscle spasms and pain. The conclusion should lead to
changes making it available to patients in Hawaii so they will not
have to buy marijuana on the black market.

The Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at the University of
California, funded with nearly $9 million by the state of California
for the past 10 years, confirmed that marijuana is effective in
reducing muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis and pain
caused by certain neurological injuries or illnesses.

Volunteers were randomly given marijuana and placebos in some of the
studies to determine actual relief. In one study, rats that were
given vaporized cannabis exhibited reduced activity of nerve cells,
indicating it could be helpful in treating migraine headaches and facial pain.

California and Hawaii are among 14 states that have legalized
marijuana for medical purposes. More than 5,700 patients in Hawaii
have registered with the state to use medical marijuana. However,
while California has been trying to cope with nearly 1,000 medical
marijuana dispensaries, creating what some have called a carnival
atmosphere, Hawaii has none.

The George W. Bush administration won a court battle upholding a
federal law classifying marijuana as an illicit drug with no medical
use, allowing prosecution of people for using pot for medical
purposes. The Obama administration has chosen not to pursue such prosecutions.

Gov. Linda Lingle has insisted on adhering to the federal law. She
vetoed a bill last year that would have created a task force to find
a way for patients to obtain marijuana legally. When the Legislature
overrode her veto, she chose not to create the task force. Instead,
Sen. Will Espero, who sponsored the task force bill, asked
representatives of nongovernmental groups included in the bill to do
the work as the Medical Cannabis Working Group.

The group issued a report this month proposing creation of a
marijuana distribution system for patients, increases in the maximum
number of plants and marijuana amounts a patient may possess,
allowing doctors to care for at least five patients to assure them
adequate supplies and transferring the program from the Department of
Public Safety to the Department of Health.

The working group also recommends that the Legislature ensure patient
confidentiality -- state officials released patients' names and
addresses to a Hilo newspaper in 2008 -- and "presumptive eligibility
. so that a patient with completed paperwork is assumed to be
certified pending determination" by the state agency.

Legislators have strongly supported the state's medical marijuana
law. The working group notes that Lingle's veto of the task force
legislation was overridden unanimously by the Senate and by a 38-9
vote in the House. A bill to create a distribution system should be
enacted with the expectation that a veto will fail again and the next
governor will implement the new law.