MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW NEEDS REVISION

The Star-Bulletin's May 22 editorial, "Medical marijuana research
should not be hampered," admirably argues against "absurd" federal
policies discouraging science. Unfortunately, equally difficult state
policies hamper Hawaii's seven-year-old medical marijuana law, and
unduly interfere with the doctor-patient relationship.

For instance, medical marijuana clearly is a health issue and should
fall under the Department of Health, not law enforcement. Bureaucratic
roadblocks faced by physicians and their patients can be eliminated.
And instead of forcing sick patients to shady dealings in the black
market, there must be a safe, legal source for the medical marijuana
their doctors recommend for their serious illnesses.

Our lawmakers enacted this program to provide compassionate care for
the seriously ill. Time has revealed that changes need to be made. We
urge the Legislature to act to ease the burdens faced by the more than
1,000 registered patients in the program and the untold others who
would benefit from it.

Jeanne Y. Ohta

Executive director

Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii