PUBLIC VIEWPOINT: Medical Marijuana Initiative Deserves Support

Thanks to the hard work of a few dedicated and courageous Arkansans, we will have the opportunity to vote in this coming election for medical marijuana, an initiative that would allow a medical doctor to legally prescribe marijuana for a patient as part of the healing process.

Folks, we all know of someone who has cancer or some other serious illnesses, often life threatening. And, because of the illness itself or because of the harsh drugs they are taking to get better, they are inexcruciating pain, can’t keep their food down or have lost their appetite and are losing weight. Often times, marijuana is the only thing that will alleviate the pain, eliminate the nausea and restore the appetite without the horrible side effects of narcotic drugs. The time has come for a doctor to be able to recommend any remedy they see fit, including marijuana, that will help their patient.

This initiative is very strict in its interpretation.

Unlike the laws in California and other states, there will be only about 15 serious illnesses eligible for marijuana to be prescribed. And, unlike most other states where this law has been passed by the voters, there will only be approximately 30 nonprofit dispensaries allowed to operate in the state in a fashion similar to a pharmacy but only for the dispensing of marijuana to those licensed patients or their care givers.

It’s time that we do away with scare tactic scenarios like “Refer Madness” or the idea that for the seriously ill, marijuana will be a “gateway” to hard drugs.

We have the right to allow our medical doctors, not legislators, to determine what medicine is best for our conditions.

I wholeheartedly support the compassionate care this initiative will provide for our family members or others we know who will no longer have to break the law to get the medicine they need. When you go to the polls, I hope you will also vote yes on Issue No. 5, The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act.

MOSHE NEWMARK

Fayetteville

Opinion, Pages 5 on 10/25/2012

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