DOC QUESTIONS TRUE NEED FOR SOME MARIJUANA PATIENTS

Dispensary Operators Counter That Pot Is A Sound Replacement For
Powerful Prescription Painkillers

CARBONDALE, Colorado -- A local, longtime family practitioner who
served on Carbondale's medical marijuana advisory group admits he
entered the process with some skepticism.

But, the diverse make-up of the group did lead to some reasonable
recommendations to help control the burgeoning industry locally, Dr.
Rick Herrington, a founding partner in Roaring Fork Family Physicians,
offered before the Carbondale Board of Trustees Tuesday night.

"I really felt that both sides of the issue were represented on the
committee," he said.

Still, Herrington said he does question the legitimate need of some
medical marijuana patients in Colorado to continue using the drug for
their ailments.

"I think there is a sincere intent to help people who can truly
benefit [from the medical use of marijuana]," he said.

But, "Are there that many sick people in Carbondale? I don't think
so," Herrington said when asked by Trustee John Foulkrod if Carbondale
has enough demand to support 12 or more medical marijuana
dispensaries.

Herrington said he's personally only had one patient who he felt was
appropriate to give the necessary medical authorization to register
with the state of Colorado to receive medical marijuana.

The problem, unlike with controlled prescription drugs, is that
there's no follow-up control for medical doctors to track a marijuana
patient's progress until their certification card expires after 12
months, he added.

Herrington noted reading that some 80 percent of the medical marijuana
authorizations given in Colorado came from just five doctors.

"I think you'll see that the number of cards renewed will go down," he
said, especially given the new stringent doctor-patient requirements
contained in the state law that went into effect this month.

Local dispensary owners who worked with Carbondale's advisory group
countered that their operations are serving a legitimate need in the
community.

"I would encourage you to stay proactive on this," Ric Costaldo, who
operates the Green Miracle Medicinals center on Main Street, said. "In
the six-and-a-half months we've been open, we have seen people be able
to get off their prescriptions for heavier prescription painkillers.
It isn't malarkey, there is a beneficial aspect to it."

Added Chris Busley of the Colorado Mountain Dispensary (C.M.D.),
"Anyone who has been in these centers will see that people are being
helped, and people are getting off of painkillers that aren't maybe as
healthy."