Medical marijuana in Minnesota: To toke or not to toke?
By Rosy Bray Volunteer Writer From MENAFIN.COM
University of Minnesota – Duluth, Duluth, MN November 13, 2013 (UMD Statesman, provided by UWIRE, a division of Uloop via Comtex)
On Monday, Nov. 11, Minnesota House Representatives held a panel discussion on UMD’s campus about the debate on the use of medical marijuana. The panel covered both sides of the issue and was opened up to the audience for a question-and-answer session at the end.
Representative Carly Melin, member of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor-Party, introduced the bill earlier this year. The purpose of the bill is to allow doctors in Minnesota to prescribe medicinal marijuana to patients who are seriously ill or in chronic pain.
“I introduced the bill last year knowing there was going to be a lot of conversation surrounding it, with hopes to receive a lot of community input,” Melin said. “I continue to learn more and more about the benefits of medical marijuana and having forums like this is definitely beneficial in moving forward.”
The overriding issue of this debate is the required change to the 1972 United States Controlled Substances Act. This act labeled marijuana a Schedule I drug, which means the drug is not allowed for medical purposes because it has a high potential for abuse and is considered unsafe. In order to prescribe medical marijuana legally, it must be changed to a Schedule II drug.
When the recreational use of marijuana picked up in the 1970s, the medical benefits were rediscovered. An attempt to amend the occurred in 1972.
“People with illness found that it was working and researched the health benefits,” said Heather Azzi, political director for Minnesotans for Compassionate Care. “A petition was submitted to the FDA to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule II drug. Unfortunately, it was ignored and there has been no progress since.”
This bill is not to be confused with the legalization of recreational marijuana. The bill comes along with specific stipulations.
Those with a medical marijuana card will only be able to possess 2.5 oz. at a time and must have a prescription from a physician. There will be one medical marijuana dispensary in each county, and up to three in metro areas. All dispensaries have to be state-licensed facilities by the Minnesota Department of Health.
Cardholders who abuse their prescription and distribute the drug to someone else will face felony prosecutions. This will help to control the dissemination of the drug to people who are not sick.
“This legislation is to make sure people who are sick with chronic and terminal illnesses have access to medical marijuana if their doctor says it would be the best practice for them,” Melin said. “We’ve seen that there are a lot of other drugs out there that have more harsh effects than marijuana.”
Azzi offered research that found marijuana alleviates pain and reduces spasms. No one has ever died from an overdose on marijuana and the drug comes with a variety of therapeutic applications, such as relief from nausea, relief from vomiting and appetite loss, reduction of pressure in the eye and muscle spasms, and relief from chronic pain. It is also proven to help with diseases, such as AIDS, hepatitis C, glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.
However, the bill also has its opponents. Representative Bob Barrett, member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, discussed the cons of allowing medical marijuana.
“The issue of substance abuse is very real our country — real related to marijuana, hard drugs and alcohol,” Barrett said. “When I look at the issue, I think about all of the young folks who are unfortunately abusing drugs in our country.
Barrett discussed the severe negative consequences of using marijuana early in life — use, he said, can lead to permanent issues with the brain, hindering the ability to learn, function and lead a productive life. Opponents also look at it from a policy perspective: the drug is illegal at a federal level whether or not the medical use is passed in Minnesota. So they believe discussion of rescheduling it should be taken from a federal perspective.
What would it take to reschedule the drug? Cody Wiberg, director of the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy, explained the implications.
“The board would have to find that marijuana has no abuse potential, cannot cause physical or psychological dependence, and would have to find that it has safe and accepted medical use,” said Wiberg. “The one that the board cannot find is that the drug has no potential for abuse.”
The burning debate of the legalization of medical marijuana in Minnesota will continue into 2014, the second year of the biennium session 2014.
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See also related iNews stories:
December 6 2013 Editorial: “Should medical ganga be made legal?” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/the-editor-speaks-should-medical-ganga-be-made-legal/
December 6 2013 “High time to decriminalise ganja” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/high-time-to-decriminalise-ganja/
September 11 2013 “High time CARICOM discuss legalising marijuana – Gonsalves” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/high-time-caricom-discuss-legalising-marijuana-gonsalves/
