As Michigan voters prepare to consider a November ballot initiative to protect seriously ill patients who use medical marijuana from arrest and jail, one of America's leading medical societies has come down forcefully on the side of compassion and common sense in supporting medical marijuana for seriously ill people. These doctors have demolished the myths being floated by opponents of medical marijuana.
The American College of Physicians is the nation's largest medical specialty organization and the second largest physician group in the United States. Its membership numbers 124,000 doctors -- specialists in internal medicine, cardiology, neurology, pulmonary disease, oncology and infectious diseases, among others. ACP publishes Annals of Internal Medicine, the most widely cited medical specialty journal in the world.
In a just-released position paper backed up with 10 pages of scientific documentation and references, ACP says the federal government is wrong to classify marijuana as unsuitable for medical use and urges an immediate review of its status, "given the scientific evidence regarding marijuana's safety and efficacy in some clinical situations."
ACP specifically calls for "protection from criminal or civil penalties for patients who use medical marijuana as permitted under state laws," such as the one Michigan will soon vote on.
ACP directly takes on the myths already being raised by opponents:
-- ACP cites studies showing that marijuana's active components "may provide symptom relief not found in any other medication" for patients suffering from AIDS or undergoing cancer chemotherapy and experiencing severe pain, nausea and appetite loss.
-- ACP explains that a technology called vaporization removes the hazards of smoking while maintaining the benefits that patients prefer.
-- ACP notes that the THC pill called Marinol, touted as a substitute for marijuana, has "serious limitations" due to "slow absorption" and side effects that are "more severe."
-- "Marijuana has not been shown to be the cause of even the most serious predictor of serious drug abuse," the doctors write, adding pointedly, "Opiates are highly addictive yet medically effective ... There is no evidence to suggest that medical use of opiates has increased perception that their illicit use is safe or acceptable."
The group representing 124,000 physicians has declared that it's time for public policy to recognize "marijuana's proven efficacy at treating certain symptoms and its relatively low toxicity."
Michigan voters should take the doctors' advice this November and vote to protect seriously ill patients from arrest and jail
About the author: Dianne Byrum served eight years on the Ingham County Commission and 16 years in the Michigan House and Senate, where she became the first woman elected as the Democratic leader of the House. She is spokeswoman for the Michigan Coalition for Compassionate Care.
About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by e-mailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.
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