[Vision2020] Hearing on Medical Marijuana Draws Range of Views

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (April 5, 2011) Lewiston Tribune.

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Hearing on medical marijuana draws range of views
By William L. Spence of the Tribune
April 5, 2011

BOISE - An informational hearing on Rep. Tom Trail's medical marijuana
bill covered all the bases Monday, from opposition to passionate support.

This was a continuation of an informational hearing that started last
week. The House Health and Welfare Committee didn't take any action, but
heard from several invited speakers.

Dr. Chris Schull, an Idaho Falls oncologist, said medical marijuana works
better for some people and is cheaper than opiate pain killers and other
drugs.

"It can help patients with the nausea and other side effects (of radiation
treatments)," he said. "It's probably the best drug for helping to
stimulate appetite, and it helps with anxiety by giving a feeling of
well-being."

As a physician, Schull said he finds it frustrating marijuana isn't
treated the same as other drugs.

"I'm legally authorized to prescribe any number of substances that have
higher cost and greater addictive power, yet just marijuana is singled
out," he said. "Why this particular drug has to be singled out,
particularly for a population for whom it has been shown to be safe and
effective, is baffling to me."

Sam Hoagland, an attorney and practicing pharmacist, said marijuana was a
recognized medical product until 1970, when Congress classified it as a
Schedule 1 illegal drug in the Controlled Substances Act.

Several speakers testified to the beneficial effect medical marijuana has
had on their own medical condition or that of a loved one.

Nevertheless, while respectful of such comments, Debbie Field with the
Idaho Office of Drug Policy suggested medical marijuana was a "slippery
slope" Idaho shouldn't go down.

The Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association also raised concerns about how
medical marijuana legislation affects law enforcement and the prosecution
of other marijuana statutes.

Trail closed by saying medical marijuana should be an issue between
patients and their doctors, rather than between patients and law
enforcement. He also thanked Idaho Falls Rep. Janice McGeachin for holding
the first legislative hearing of any kind on this issue.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown