As a physician who certifies patients for the use of medical marijuana (cannabis), I am appalled to read about the misguided attempts by Rep. Marcus Oshiro (Oahu) to harass both patients and doctors who participate in the medical cannabis program.
First, Rep. Oshiro wants to forbid patients from growing their own medication once dispensaries open in July. Most patients who qualify for the use of medical cannabis have chronic pain or cancer or HIV or PTSD. Their lives are already difficult enough without forcing them to buy expensive medications from dispensaries under a program which does not allow any insurance participation. I agree wholeheartedly with Sen./Dr. Josh Green that this bill is “immoral” (not to mention cruel) and cannot imagine how anyone with an ounce of compassion could vote for it.
Secondly, Rep. Oshiro wants to have special monitoring of physicians who certify patients for medical cannabis because: 1) he thinks cannabis is a dangerous medication analogous to opioids and 2) the majority of certifications are done by a small number of physicians.
1) Comparing opioids to cannabis is like comparing Godzilla to Bambi. Prescription opioids like Oxycontin are highly addictive substances that kill thousands of people (one death every 25 minutes in the U.S.!), whereas cannabis is minimally or non-addictive and has never killed a single person.
2) Most physicians have no interest in certifying medical cannabis patients because medical schools never teach the benefits, so most physicians are aware only of the negative government propaganda. Also note that certification is already complex and difficult enough, requiring online application to the Department of Health in addition to a visit to the physician every year to stay certified. No wonder only a small number of physician specialists participate in the program. And the fact that fewer than 1 percent of Hawaiian citizens have certification (despite the fact that over 30 percent would qualify on the basis of chronic pain alone) tells us that the program is way under-utilized rather than being overused.
So what should the state do about the 15-year-old medical cannabis program? Why not study and learn from what other states have done? States that have legalized medical cannabis have seen a 12 percent drop in alcohol related traffic fatalities. Colorado had significant drops in traffic fatalities and in violent crimes after legalizing cannabis for all adults. And teenage usage has dropped.
People who need cannabis for pain or nausea or PTSD should never be hassled for this. The same goes for physicians who are brave enough to fight the ridiculous stigma. Remember that 58 percent of Americans (October 2015 Gallop Poll) now agree that adult use of cannabis should be legal, so maybe it’s time to move on with aloha.
Charlie Webb, M.D., is a resident of Kailua-Kona
My Turn opinions are those of the writer and not West Hawaii Today