MARIJUANA AS MEDICINE?

Michigan Voters May Be Asked in November to Legalize Drug for Patients in Pain

Lynn Allen is in a great deal of pain. And he thinks marijuana would ease it.

The 51-year-old Williamston man was born with hemophilia and infected
with HIV and hepatitis C more than 20 years ago.

His greatest pain comes from arthritis related to his hemophilia. He
must use a wheel-chair to get around. He takes narcotics that help
with pain, but they have side effects, including constipation and
memory problems. Unless it's legal, he won't use marijuana.

"I had children in the home, and I didn't want to set a bad example
for them," Allen said. "They've since gone off to college, but I just
don't think it's a good idea to break the law."

Michigan voters will probably decide next November whether to allow
seriously ill patients to use marijuana based on the recommendation
of a physician.

Supporters have turned in nearly half a million petition signatures
to the Secretary of State's Office - they need 304,000 valid
signatures to get the issue on the ballot.

But opponents question the medicinal value of marijuana and the
sincerity of the effort. Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth is
among them.

"There's plenty of pain medication out there," Wriggelsworth said. "I
don't think anybody's concern is about ill people. It's just a way
for people who have a predisposition to use drugs to try to get them
legalized."

Local Ordinances

Twelve states allow the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. In
Michigan, five cities - Ann Arbor, Detroit, Ferndale, Flint and
Traverse City - have ordinances to do so, although use and possession
are illegal under both state and federal law.

Under the Michigan proposal, seriously ill patients could legally use
marijuana with a doctor's recommendation.

The measure specifically lists treatment for such things as HIV,
cancer and Alzheimer's, as well as for less specific "severe and chronic pain."

Patients would register with the state and have an ID card to help
police know they have the right to use marijuana.

Those who are registered would have the right to grow up to 12
marijuana plants.

They could not be prosecuted for buying marijuana, although it would
still be a crime for someone to sell it.

The medical community is divided on the issue. Supporters include the
California, New York and Rhode Island medical societies, the American
Public Health Association and the American Academy of HIV Medicine.

White House Against It

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy opposes it, as
does the Michigan State Medical Society except in research.

Some Michigan residents use marijuana to help with pain despite the
fact that it is against the law.

"You find it primarily used for people who are going through
chemotherapy and have a difficult time keeping anything down, people
with muscular pain such as multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, people who
are in serious pain and that have life-threatening illnesses," said
Dianne Byrum, a former legislator whose political consulting firm is
leading the drive.

Byrum says other states with medical marijuana laws have seen up to
one half of 1 percent of the population take advantage of the law. In
Michigan, that would be about 50,000 people.

But Dr. Michael Chafty, a pain-management specialist who serves on
the Michigan State Medical Society's board of directors, said more
well-controlled studies are needed.

"Many of the people who think that marijuana is their only option
don't understand the options that currently exist in pain
management," he said. "There are a lot of other options that are very
adequate, if not superior, to marijuana."

Lawmaker Opposed

In theory, the Legislature could enact the marijuana law, eliminating
the need for sending it to the voters. But that's not likely to
happen, said Senate Majority Floor Leader Alan Cropsey, R-DeWitt.

"These folks are trying to pull the wool over people's eyes," Cropsey
said. "They'll get a couple of very sympathetic examples out there,
but when it comes right down to it, they are just plain trying to
legalize marijuana eventually."

[sidebars]

MARINOL VS. MARIJUANA

The prescription drug Marinol is a gelatin capsule with synthetic
THC, the primary active ingredient in marijuana. Doctors prescribe it
for nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients and to treat
appetite loss in AIDS patients.

Proponents of legalized medical marijuana say Marinol is one
treatment option, but it doesn't include all of the active
ingredients of marijuana and can take longer to provide relief.

NOT EASY TO BUY

Acquiring marijuana for medical purposes isn't as simple as going to
the pharmacy.

Registered patients could grow up to 12 marijuana plants, but would
have to come up with a way to get the seeds.

Buying marijuana from a local dope dealer would be legal for the
buyer, but not the seller.

PLAN TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA

The Web site for the initiative to legalize marijuana for medicinal
purposes is stoparrestingpatients.org.

The measure would:

Allow seriously ill patients to use marijuana for medical purposes
with the recommendation of their doctor. The measure specifically
lists treatment for such things as HIV, cancer and Alzheimer's, as
well as for less specific "severe and chronic pain."

Set up a registry system with the state.

Allow those patients to grow up to 12 marijuana plants.

Protect caregivers from prosecution.