It is evident that Idahoans, by and large, are ignoring the medical uses of marijuana, writes Kevin Keller.
Theres an argument for the legalization of medical marijuana in Idaho. The argument runs thus: those suffering from the effects of chemotherapy may benefit from THC and CBD, both found in the marijuana plant, by alleviating the nausea and lessening the inflammation and vomiting of the patient.
For many, however, this is not nearly a good enough reason for the legalization of the drug, and its certainly not without heartfelt concerns.
One concern is that there seems to be no reason to add yet another drug to the medicinal market. There are medicines in use now that lessen nausea and vomiting, such as Marinol and Cesamet. The chemical compounds in these mirror those found in marijuana; and since they have already been approved by the FDA and have been administered by pharmacists and doctors for quite some time, the argument for marijuana as an anti-nausea alternative appears to be redundant.
Yet this still allows for a rather small window for medical marijuana to peak through. Some patients do not respond to the medicines now in use, such as the two listed above; and every patient of chemotherapy experiences a major drop in appetite even if these anti-nausea medicines work for them. In fact, Dr. Donald Abrams, Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of California, says marijuana is the only drug that both diminishes nausea and increases appetite.
But even allowing that Dr. Abrams is correct, and permitting that marijuana relieves pain from chemotherapy, there remains a great deal of misunderstanding and blatant falsehoods about the drug. This has been promulgated for decades by top (non-medical) officials who lay down policy that prevents further medical research.
There is not enough research available precisely for the reason that marijuana is a banned substanceand more than banned; it is neatly tacked onto the DEAs cork-board of Schedule 1 drugs right alongside cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. These last three have high mortality rates due to overdose. Marijuana has never had one known case of an overdose. The DEAs very own Drug Fact Sheet states this clearly.
Still, some of the most conservative leading minds in the United States have condemned the illegality of marijuana. William F. Buckley Jr. said that it is an outrage, an imposition on basic civil liberties and on the reasonable expenditure of social energy; while the Founding Fathers praised its uses. Most notably, George Washington implored Americans to Make the most of the Indian Hemp plant (cannabis) and sow it everywhere.
This includes such Idahoans as Governor Butch Otter and Senator Mike Crapo, both of whom have certainly been making the most out of alcohol, as they have both been pulled over for driving intoxicated by it; and yet they have found it unimaginable to allow even the most languished oncological patients a monitored dose of marijuana.
So as Idaho is finding herself alone amongst neighboring States Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Montana have now legalized medical marijuana its necessary for Idahoans to have strong arguments against its use or the inevitable legalization of the drug will occur; fortunately, especially for those reeling in hospital beds, no strong argument against the use of medical marijuana even exists.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Local Column – Idaho Ignoring Medical Marijuana
Author: Kevin Keller
Contact: 208-522-1800
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Website: Post Register
