D.C. Council approves medical marijuana, posing challenges for doctors

[WhiteTara]

Source: Washington Post

snip
On Tuesday, the D.C. Council gave final approval to a bill establishing a legal medical marijuana program. If Congress signs off, District doctors -- like their counterparts in 14 states, including Rhode Island, where Chopra works -- will be allowed to add pot to the therapies they can recommend to certain patients, who will then eat it, smoke it or vaporize it until they decide they are, well, high enough.

The exact dosage and means of delivery -- as well as the sometimes perplexing process of obtaining a drug that remains illegal under federal law -- will be left largely up to the patient. And that, Chopra said, upends the way doctors are used to dispensing medication, giving the strait-laced medical establishment a whiff of the freewheeling world of weed.

Even in states that allow for marijuana's medical use, doctors cannot write prescriptions for it because of the drug's status as an illegal substance. Physicians can only recommend it. And they have no control over the quality of the drug their patients acquire.

snip

The District's measure, like those elsewhere, specifies certain conditions and illnesses that qualify for medical marijuana. A patient who has HIV, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, cancer or a chronic debilitating condition will be able to receive a doctor's recommendation to possess up to four ounces in a 30-day period.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/04/AR2010050405305.html

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slowly it changes.

[abqmufc]

1. One line really caught my eye..."If Congress signs off"

"If Congress signs off, District doctors -- like their counterparts in 14 states...." Is this not the U.S. Congress? Would this not be the first time in a long time the U.S. Congress voted on any type of cannabis bill/law? None of the other 14 states, including mine (NM), had to gain Congressional approval.

If I read this correct, despite the flaws in D.C.'s proposed medicinal cannabis law , it would be the first time the U.S. Congress considered such an action.

Under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973, Congress reviews all legislation passed by the D.C. Council before it can become law and retains authority over the District's budget. Also, the President appoints the District's judges.

[Flaneur]

7. Remember that Congress already approved removing the rider...

...that blocked DC from implementing the results of the 1998 vote where medical marijuana got 69% of the vote.

I suspect Congress will do nothing, allowing the law to go into effect.

[SemperEadem]

2. that's an eff'd up thing to say

will be allowed to add pot to the therapies they can recommend to certain patients, who will then eat it, smoke it or vaporize it until they decide they are, well, high enough.

No, until they feel relief for their symptoms. The author of this article is confusion his own limited knowledge of the use of medical marijuana with the bullshit he/she did in high school before class.

Some people who are struggling and suffering with various diseases which rob them of their appetites are able to muster an appetite and eat and impact the wasting issue going on with them. Some people are able to get relief AND be able to function throughout their day, instead of taking a strong pharmaceutical concoction that renders them useless and in their bed for the rest of the day.

Sheesh! Some people should really try education themselves before making ignorant and glib remarks about something they don't know fuck about.

[elias49]

3. An ounce of 'train wreck' per week?

That's one helluva lot of smoke!
Just sayin'

[WhiteTara]

9. if you cook with it or eat it

it takes much more than smoking...and you'll also have a whole new host of "friends"

[ensho]

4. good on D.C. (my birth place) - now they need the right to vote

nt

[Romulox]

5. Nice plant!

I question the safety of her grow room set up, though.



For real, this is my one concern with Med. Mar. laws--it would be much safer if cancer patients weren't be forced to used H.I.D. lights in basements. I fear there will be a horrible fire started in somebody's grow room, like the above, which doesn't seem to feature much in the way of ventilation.

I think we should just legalize it and let the sun do the growing. Let's come out of our basements!

[WhiteTara]

6. you're right. Great plant,

lousy set up. Totally non code and HID are VERY hot.

[Uncle Joe]

8. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, WhiteTara.