Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Don't expect doctors at Cincinnati Children's to start recommending medical marijuana when it becomes legal later this year.
A state law legalizing medical marijuana will take effect early September, but patients won't be able to purchase medical marijuana in Ohio for several more months. Agencies like the Ohio Pharmacy Board, Ohio State Medical Board and Ohio Department of Commerce must create rules on how to grow, sell and purchase medical marijuana.
"It's too far off. I can't say whether we would use it," Cincinnati Children's spokesman Jim Feuer said.
In the meantime, lawmakers provided an affirmative defense for patients who are recommended medical marijuana by their Ohio physicians then purchase it in another state where medical marijuana is legal, such as Michigan. The law doesn't require physicians to recommend medical marijuana, so some patients and advocates worry that there won't be enough doctors suggesting the treatment.
"If the healthcare community does not support Ohio's medical cannabis program, Ohio may end up in a scenario similar to the state of New York, where, despite good intentions, few patients will be able to participate in the program," said Brad White with United Ohio, a medical marijuana advocacy group.
Count Scarlett Leisure, of Leesburg, among those concerned about accessing medical marijuana. Her young daughter, Savannah, has intractable epilepsy, which her parents have been treating with cannabis oil. Savannah was having seizures regularly before the oil. Since using it, she has had just eight seizures in five months.
During Savannah's appointments at Cincinnati Children's, Leisure would regularly lock up the cannabis oil in the medicine drawer. That was the protocol Leisure was accustomed to. But when Savannah had surgery Tuesday, Leisure said she was told not to administer the cannabis oil on hospital property.
"They were telling me that I couldn't give it to her," Leisure said. Nurses ordered a supplemental seizure medication for Savannah instead, but Leisure was furious.
Leisure said she doesn't understand why she was permitted to bring cannabis oil to the hospital in the past but not this week. She doubts the hospital will recommend medical marijuana when it is legal.
"We are not going to get a recommendation from them anytime soon," she said.
Hospital staff has not decided whether doctors could recommend medical marijuana once Ohio rolls out its rules more than a year from now. In the meantime, staff are permitted to inform parents that medical marijuana is currently illegal in Ohio, Feuer said.
"You would want the parent to know if they are doing something illegal," he said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical Marijuana At Cincinnati Children's? Probably Not
Author: Jessie Balmert
Contact: 513-721-2700
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Cincinnati Enquirer
A state law legalizing medical marijuana will take effect early September, but patients won't be able to purchase medical marijuana in Ohio for several more months. Agencies like the Ohio Pharmacy Board, Ohio State Medical Board and Ohio Department of Commerce must create rules on how to grow, sell and purchase medical marijuana.
"It's too far off. I can't say whether we would use it," Cincinnati Children's spokesman Jim Feuer said.
In the meantime, lawmakers provided an affirmative defense for patients who are recommended medical marijuana by their Ohio physicians then purchase it in another state where medical marijuana is legal, such as Michigan. The law doesn't require physicians to recommend medical marijuana, so some patients and advocates worry that there won't be enough doctors suggesting the treatment.
"If the healthcare community does not support Ohio's medical cannabis program, Ohio may end up in a scenario similar to the state of New York, where, despite good intentions, few patients will be able to participate in the program," said Brad White with United Ohio, a medical marijuana advocacy group.
Count Scarlett Leisure, of Leesburg, among those concerned about accessing medical marijuana. Her young daughter, Savannah, has intractable epilepsy, which her parents have been treating with cannabis oil. Savannah was having seizures regularly before the oil. Since using it, she has had just eight seizures in five months.
During Savannah's appointments at Cincinnati Children's, Leisure would regularly lock up the cannabis oil in the medicine drawer. That was the protocol Leisure was accustomed to. But when Savannah had surgery Tuesday, Leisure said she was told not to administer the cannabis oil on hospital property.
"They were telling me that I couldn't give it to her," Leisure said. Nurses ordered a supplemental seizure medication for Savannah instead, but Leisure was furious.
Leisure said she doesn't understand why she was permitted to bring cannabis oil to the hospital in the past but not this week. She doubts the hospital will recommend medical marijuana when it is legal.
"We are not going to get a recommendation from them anytime soon," she said.
Hospital staff has not decided whether doctors could recommend medical marijuana once Ohio rolls out its rules more than a year from now. In the meantime, staff are permitted to inform parents that medical marijuana is currently illegal in Ohio, Feuer said.
"You would want the parent to know if they are doing something illegal," he said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical Marijuana At Cincinnati Children's? Probably Not
Author: Jessie Balmert
Contact: 513-721-2700
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Cincinnati Enquirer
