Robert Celt
New Member
Twenty-three states and Washington, D.C. have legalized medicinal marijuana use, and some Missourians are pushing to join those ranks.
The Missouri Compassionate Care Act would allow licensure for up to 30 medical cannabis centers and 30 cannabis cultivation and production centers across the state. The Emerging Issues committee heard this House bill sponsored by Rep. Dave Hinson, R-St. Clair, on Monday night.
Two physicians, married couple Dr. Rick Lehman and Dr. Michele Koo, testified in favor of the bill because medicinal marijuana could replace opioids as painkillers for some patients.
"Over the last eight to 10 years, doctors have created a problem," Lehman said. "We operate on people and then give them pain medication, and we haven't done a very good job of regulating that pain medication. The number of opioid addicts has skyrocketed."
Lehman, a sports doctor, shared how many young injured athletes are prescribed opioids as pain medication and ultimately become addicted.
The bill to legalize medicinal cannabis would not include acute pain injuries. It lists specific conditions that would elicit the use of medicinal marijuana. The medicinal marijuana would only be dispensed to patients with cancer, glaucoma, HIV, ALS, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, ulcerative colitis, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.
Missouri inched closer to the medicinal use of marijuana in 2014 when Gov. Jay Nixon signed a bill that legalized CBD oil for children with rare forms of epilepsy. CBD oil is a concentrated extract from marijuana that contains medicinal value while eliminating the psychedelic element.
There are only six CBD oil cardholders in Missouri, said Jason Grellner, president of the Missouri Narcotics Officers Association.
Medical cannabis is currently listed as a Schedule I substance in the U.S., which means it has high potential for dependency and no accepted medical use, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Consequently, physicians cannot prescribe medicinal marijuana, but they can recommend it.
In 2009, the Obama administration sent a memo to federal prosecutors encouraging them not to prosecute people who distribute medicinal marijuana in accordance with state law, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The department issued a statement in 2013, stating it will rely on state and local authorities to address marijuana activity through their own laws.
Brandon Costerison, public awareness specialist from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, said the regulations in the bill are more akin to liquor stores than pharmacies.
"I'm here because this bill isn't about medicine," Costerison said as he gave his testimony in opposition of the bill. "It's the first step toward commercialization of marijuana."
Costerison went on to point out, as did many other witnesses, that the state does not have to limit the location, hours or number of pharmacies in an area.
According to this bill, medicinal marijuana centers could not be within 1,000 feet of a school, alcohol or drug treatment center, principle campus of a college or seminary or a residential childcare facility.
The legalization of medicinal marijuana would also pose an economic effect on the state. Licensees in Missouri would collect sales tax on the cannabis.
Brad Bradshaw, a licensed physician in Springfield, said he wanted to direct the money toward medical research, according to a Missourian article from Dec. 6.
California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996 and is estimated to bring in between $58 million and $105 million in tax revenue from medicinal marijuana sales. In 2011, Oregon raised approximately $6.7 million in taxes from medicinal marijuana, which it used to pay for other state health programs, according to a Debt.org article from Jan. 9, 2013.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Missouri House Committee Hears Bill On Legalizing Medicinal Marijuana
Author: Emily O'Connor
Contact: Missourian
Photo Credit: None found
Website: Missourian
The Missouri Compassionate Care Act would allow licensure for up to 30 medical cannabis centers and 30 cannabis cultivation and production centers across the state. The Emerging Issues committee heard this House bill sponsored by Rep. Dave Hinson, R-St. Clair, on Monday night.
Two physicians, married couple Dr. Rick Lehman and Dr. Michele Koo, testified in favor of the bill because medicinal marijuana could replace opioids as painkillers for some patients.
"Over the last eight to 10 years, doctors have created a problem," Lehman said. "We operate on people and then give them pain medication, and we haven't done a very good job of regulating that pain medication. The number of opioid addicts has skyrocketed."
Lehman, a sports doctor, shared how many young injured athletes are prescribed opioids as pain medication and ultimately become addicted.
The bill to legalize medicinal cannabis would not include acute pain injuries. It lists specific conditions that would elicit the use of medicinal marijuana. The medicinal marijuana would only be dispensed to patients with cancer, glaucoma, HIV, ALS, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's disease, ulcerative colitis, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.
Missouri inched closer to the medicinal use of marijuana in 2014 when Gov. Jay Nixon signed a bill that legalized CBD oil for children with rare forms of epilepsy. CBD oil is a concentrated extract from marijuana that contains medicinal value while eliminating the psychedelic element.
There are only six CBD oil cardholders in Missouri, said Jason Grellner, president of the Missouri Narcotics Officers Association.
Medical cannabis is currently listed as a Schedule I substance in the U.S., which means it has high potential for dependency and no accepted medical use, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Consequently, physicians cannot prescribe medicinal marijuana, but they can recommend it.
In 2009, the Obama administration sent a memo to federal prosecutors encouraging them not to prosecute people who distribute medicinal marijuana in accordance with state law, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The department issued a statement in 2013, stating it will rely on state and local authorities to address marijuana activity through their own laws.
Brandon Costerison, public awareness specialist from the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, said the regulations in the bill are more akin to liquor stores than pharmacies.
"I'm here because this bill isn't about medicine," Costerison said as he gave his testimony in opposition of the bill. "It's the first step toward commercialization of marijuana."
Costerison went on to point out, as did many other witnesses, that the state does not have to limit the location, hours or number of pharmacies in an area.
According to this bill, medicinal marijuana centers could not be within 1,000 feet of a school, alcohol or drug treatment center, principle campus of a college or seminary or a residential childcare facility.
The legalization of medicinal marijuana would also pose an economic effect on the state. Licensees in Missouri would collect sales tax on the cannabis.
Brad Bradshaw, a licensed physician in Springfield, said he wanted to direct the money toward medical research, according to a Missourian article from Dec. 6.
California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996 and is estimated to bring in between $58 million and $105 million in tax revenue from medicinal marijuana sales. In 2011, Oregon raised approximately $6.7 million in taxes from medicinal marijuana, which it used to pay for other state health programs, according to a Debt.org article from Jan. 9, 2013.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Missouri House Committee Hears Bill On Legalizing Medicinal Marijuana
Author: Emily O'Connor
Contact: Missourian
Photo Credit: None found
Website: Missourian
