Letters to the Editor: 11-21-16

State more concerned about invasive species getting out

I have read numerous expressions of concerns about the Little Red Fire Ant but no one seems to care how they got here or who brought them in. In fact, there have been numerous invasive species introduced to Hawaii but the only concern seems to be that none of these invasive species leaves this island. We have a state run department that is charged with the prevention of additional unwanted species but they seem to guard the door that leads out of the island but not the door that allows entry.

Some of us “old folks” can still remember the days when we could pick fully ripened fruit from any fruit tree or vine and eat it without the concern of eating maggots with the first bite. Those were the days! There was little value in honey because it seemed that every fourth family we knew had a few honey bee hives in their back yard or honey was there for the taking from numerous wild hives.

Today we need to deal with coqui frogs, vicious wasps that live under ground in large colonies, small hive beetles, and vaora mites, coffee beetles, and the list goes on for pages. Hawaii is “paradise gone invasive” while it seems that no one pursues, investigates, or penalizes those who bring them in. When is someone going to take a stand to prevent this influx? When will it be too late or was it too late 30 years ago? What do the Department of Agriculture staff do to prevent more invasive species from entering Hawaii? Do they take the same approach as the Federal Agency who deals with illegal immigrants? Open borders?

Maybe there are too few of us who can faintly remember the “good old days.”

Leningrad Elarionoff

Waimea

Cannabis safe option over opioids

The two part series on opioid addiction was informative and hopeful (WHT, Nov. 13-14). Exploring alternative modalities to prescribing opioids such as prolotherapy injections, acupuncture, massage therapy and others are beneficial holistic substitute therapies for pain management.

However, absent from these articles was mention of another substance that is a safe alternative for managing chronic pain, addiction and withdrawal symptoms: Cannabis. Cannabis, a nontoxic and non-addicting herbal medicine has been used for over 5,000 years by ancient cultures starting in China. It was also found in the tombs of the pharaohs.

And now, following nearly 80 years of prohibition in America, a majority of states including Hawaii have approved cannabis as an efficacious medicine for many illnesses and conditions. One of the conditions that cannabis has been proven to benefit is addiction and/or dependency) to opioids. In 43 years of advocacy, I have met many people who have gotten off of addicting drugs including opioids, heroin and ice by using cannabis as a medicine.

In April, Time magazine published an article which cited that in states where medical cannabis is legal there was a 25 percent reduction in opioid overdoses. Physicians and advanced practice providers need to educate themselves about cannabis’ medicinal uses and may be able to avoid prescribing opioids for pain or anxiety.

When the dispensaries open next year there will be specific strains available that provide relief from chronic pain and withdrawal symptoms. And, although opioids do have a place in modern medicine for severe pain following surgery, cannabis can wean a person off pill dependency resulting from prolonged use. As Dr. Puana stated in the article, “A patient who takes opioids for two weeks will be physically addicted.” Cannabis can play a part in reducing those addicted to opioid drugs and who sadly die by overdosing.

Andrea Tischler,

Chairwoman, Big Island Chapter, Americans for Safe Access

Hilo