I’m fine with medicinal marijuana. I’m not fine changing our country’s medical and pharmaceutical system to accommodate joints. Generally speaking we don’t smoke medicine. Inhalants, sure. Pills or liquids, of course. Transdermal patches and injections, routine. Suppositories, well, it’s too bad William Randolph Hearst didn’t declare war on them, but fine. We don’t smoke two aspirins and call the doctor in the morning. There are better ways of isolating and administering the medicinal properties of marijuana than firing up a doobie next to the oxygen tank at the hospital.
State Representative Joel Bomgar (R-Madison) introduced legislation this session to create a Medical Marijuana Pilot Program. His proposal would not allow smoking it, but rather for it to be prescribed and dosed by a physician for specific medical conditions. That seems reasonable.
In 2014 state Senator Josh Harkins (R-Flowood) passed legislation allowing the University Medical Center to utilize CBD (cannabidol) oil to treat children with epilepsy. Unfortunately, inflexibility in federal law means it is still pending approval. The benefits of CBD oil are inversely proportional to THC levels, meaning the best medicine doesn’t get you high.
But that’s the final argument for the legalization of marijuana. People want to get high.
Neshoba Democrat
2/22/17
Magnolia Tribune
