In the interest of fairness, we’re giving space to some interesting comments of one of our readers, Brian Kelly, about our column last week. He believes the fear of legalizing medical marijuana is unfounded. It’s “not based on any science or fact whatsoever,” adding that prohibitionists are just employing scare tactics.
He writes: “The prohibition of marijuana has not decreased the supply nor the demand for medical marijuana at all. Not [a] single iota, and it never will. Just a huge and complete waste of our tax dollars to continue criminalizing sick patients and senior citizens in pain for choosing a natural, nontoxic [and] relatively benign plant proven to be much safer than daily handfuls of deadly, toxic, manmade, highly addictive, narcotic pain pills and other pharmaceuticals.
“If prohibitionists are going to take it upon themselves to worry about ‘saving us all’ from ourselves, then they need to start with the drug that causes more death and destruction than every other drug in the world COMBINED, which is alcohol!
“Prohibitionists really should get their priorities straight and or practice a little live and let live. They’ll live longer, happier and healthier, [and] with a lot less stress if they refrain from being bent on trying to control others through Draconian Marijuana Laws.
Marvelous drug
“When a loved one is in pain, wasting away unable to eat, and needs this marvelous herb in order to increase their appetite, reduce the overwhelming pain, and live as healthy and happily as they can with the time they have left, let’s have the compassion to allow them to have it.
“Stop treating medical marijuana patients like second-rate citizens and common criminals by forcing them to the dangerous blackmarket for their medicine. Risking incarceration to obtain the medicine you need is no way to be forced to live.”
He goes on to cite various quotes from medical authors and organizations abroad advocating the legalization of medical marijuana.
I don’t think there’s a disagreement between those for and against the passing of House Bill No. 4477 or the “Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act,” that we can allow the medical use of marijuana or cannabis for specific indications in which it has been shown to have possible benefits. These include painful spasms in some neurologic disorders, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting not responsive to standard medications, HIV-related anorexia and severe nerve pains, and a few other medical conditions.
But since it is either a potentially beneficial or harmful substance, its use has to be strictly regulated and must be done under close medical supervision, just like all approved narcotics, sedatives and potent pain killers.
I remember that Food and Drugs Administration director Kenneth Hartigan-Go once told me in an e-mail communication earlier this year that the FDA is open to any application for a compassionate use of cannabis in the form of synthetic analogues or other medicinal preparations. But up to that time, no one has filed any application.
Bone of contention
The bone of contention here is not that medical marijuana might benefit limited and specific patients, but that HB 4477 is not providing enough safeguards to ensure that any cannabis preparation is really rationally used and limited to a few specific indications, as shown by scientific studies and not only anecdotal testimonials. It cannot be argued that the potential for its abuse is more extensive and devastating compared to the limited number of patients who could benefit from the substance. But of course, we also don’t want to deprive this limited number of patients whatever benefits marijuana could offer, which standard medicines could not provide.
Marijuana is a potent drug affecting the brain and it can also cause severe depression and other mental disorders. This may be a risk worth taking for those with terminal illnesses and markedly debilitating diseases which may respond to medical cannabis. But it’s too much of a risk for the rest of the population, especially adolescents and young adults who may be vulnerable to the adventurous use of the substance leading to abuse. As it is, with current regulations, we already have an alarming increase in the recreational use of marijuana. How much more if its medical use is legalized with some potential loopholes for abuse?
I fully support the proposal of the Philippine College of Physicians and other medical organizations to create a task force of experts to look into the various issues and concerns, and institute stricter safeguards for a rational medical use of this double-bladed substance.