EDUCATION NEEDED ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Editor:

Legalization of medical marijuana has received an increasing amount of
attention and support since 1996, particularly as politicians have jumped
on the pro-legalization bandwagon and patients have attested to the
benefits derived from using marijuana to relieve symptoms of chronic and
terminal illnesses. There are varying opinions on this controversial
subject and those in favor of legalization have succeeded in making their
voices heard. What is lacking is a straightforward answer on whether
marijuana can serve a valuable role in the medical management of terminal
illness.

The evidence supporting the use of medical marijuana is clearly anecdotal.
The federal government supports limited research on medical marijuana that
must follow well-defined protocols outlined by the Food and Drug
Administration and no clear evidence has emerged. Therefore the federal
government has not passed legislation allowing marijuana to be used for
medicinal purposes. Many states have passed legislation allowing for
broader research of marijuana, but without federal authorization, research
programs are not legal and researchers are subject to prosecution by
federal authorities.

The federal government's answer to medical marijuana is Marinol, a
physician-prescribed medication containing the active ingredient in
marijuana that relieves nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients, and
improves the appetite of those suffering from HIV/AIDS. Marinol was
introduced in 1986 and has been met with mixed reviews. In addition to
improving appetite, it can also produce similar effects of smoking
marijuana, including reduced concentration and coordination,
hallucinations, and a tired, groggy feeling.

Throughout 2003, the Council for Prevention for Alcohol and Substance
Abuse, in conjunction with Warren/Washington Counties Prevention
Cooperative will be undertaking the challenge of sorting through the
abundance of information available on the medical and recreational use of
marijuana, in order to separate fact from fiction and dispel the many myths
that surround the drug period. Several facts are already
certain. Adolescent usage of marijuana in Warren and Washington counties
is increasing. Teenagers are reporting that it is easier to obtain
marijuana than alcohol. This has negative implications for schools trying
to educate teens under the influence as well as area employers who cannot
find a workforce which can pass drug tests designed to insure a safe
working environment.

It is all too easy to get caught up in the rhetoric of both sides of this
issue. Further education, continued research and thoughtful consideration
is needed while the debate to legalize medical marijuana rages on.

Jennifer Wood, for the Community Education Department, the Council for
Prevention of Alcohol and Substance Abuse