Robert Celt
New Member
Pennsylvania could soon be the latest state to legalize medical marijuana, allowing residents who have a qualifying condition to purchase the drug from a dispensary.
The state House Wednesday approved a bill that will be sent to Gov. Tom Wolf, who said he would sign it Sunday.
While many questions remain, Dr. Suzanne Labriola, an Allegheny Health Network supportive care and geriatric physician, is excited by the possibility.
"Absolutely, I am a proponent of it, because we're talking about medical marijuana," said Labriola, who practices in Canonsburg. "This (bill) is not for recreational use."
Labriola practices palliative medicine, an approach focused on providing relief for patients with chronic conditions, like cancer, HIV/AIDS and advanced dementia. Although she can prescribe a synthetic pill form of marijuana, Labriola believes natural cannabis will prove more effective for relieving multiple symptoms, including pain, nausea and decreased appetite.
"It does more than one thing — one of the tenants we like in palliative medicine," she said. "You get more bang for your buck."
In addition, she said, marijuana does not have side effects of many prescribed medications.
Cheryl D. Andrews, executive director of Washington Drug & Alcohol Commission, which provides intervention, prevention and treatment services, is concerned about the lack of medical testing.
"I feel very strongly (that) marijuana for medical use should be studied like any other medication," said Andrews. "This should not be decided by state legislators. Even though they've maybe taken the time to educate themselves, clinical trials have not been approved."
Andrews worries legalizing marijuana for medical use could lead to legalized recreational use.
"Even though we're well-intended and think we can keep this among the population that needs it, it definitely has the potential for abuse or getting in the wrong hands," she said.
Andrews said the number of youths using marijuana is on the rise and studies prove it is a gateway drug.
But Harriett Southall, 49, said using doesn't necessarily lead to other drugs.
"I don't abuse the marijuana like a lot of younger kids — I self-medicate," said the Washington resident. "I (know people) out there shooting heroin and snorting cocaine — it does not push me to go there. That's not what I want."
Southall said she smokes marijuana daily in order to relieve her chronic pain, depression and anxiety. She said she doesn't like breaking the law, but the drug relieves her pain, soothes her nerves and increases her appetite.
"I feel that man made beer and God made pot," she said. "Who do you trust?"
Southall said she doesn't use narcotics to treat pain she began experiencing after a car accident two years ago and she is honest with her doctors about her marijuana use.
"I'll do what I have to do as long as it's legal," she said. "I don't like doing it because it's not legal, but it helps me in so many ways."
If the bill is approved, patients with a qualifying condition could take marijuana in oil, vapor, pill or liquid form from a physician registered by the state. It still would not be legal to smoke it.
The 17 qualifying conditions are autism, cancer, Crohn's disease, damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Huntington's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, uncontrolled seizures, Lou Gehrig's disease, multiple sclerosis, neuropathies, neuropathic pain, Parkinson's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, sickle cell anemia and severe chronic pain in which other therapies, like prescription opiates, are ineffective.
The state would grant licenses to 25 growers and processors and as many as 50 dispensaries would be established. Growers would pay an initial registration fee and annual renewal fees.
State Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll Township, issued a statement Thursday in response to the bill, saying one of her highest priorities is ending the heroin and opioid epidemic.
"Permitting the use of medicinal cannabis offers many patients a safe alternative to highly addictive medications that are often overprescribed," she said. "Much of the struggle in passing this legislation stemmed from misinformation and preconceived notions about the use of cannabis. To this day, many in the general public do not understand that the bill is restricted to medicinal use through oils and tinctures and is not permitted to be smoked."
Bartolotta said the bill includes necessary safeguards to ensure only those individuals who can benefit will have access to the drug.
"If there's anything positive to say, legislators stayed on the side of caution," Andrews said. "They really tried to be restrictive."
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: PA: Health Experts, Residents Weigh In On Medical marijuana
Author: Natalie Reid Miller
Photo Credit: Associated Press
Website: Observer-Reporter
The state House Wednesday approved a bill that will be sent to Gov. Tom Wolf, who said he would sign it Sunday.
While many questions remain, Dr. Suzanne Labriola, an Allegheny Health Network supportive care and geriatric physician, is excited by the possibility.
"Absolutely, I am a proponent of it, because we're talking about medical marijuana," said Labriola, who practices in Canonsburg. "This (bill) is not for recreational use."
Labriola practices palliative medicine, an approach focused on providing relief for patients with chronic conditions, like cancer, HIV/AIDS and advanced dementia. Although she can prescribe a synthetic pill form of marijuana, Labriola believes natural cannabis will prove more effective for relieving multiple symptoms, including pain, nausea and decreased appetite.
"It does more than one thing — one of the tenants we like in palliative medicine," she said. "You get more bang for your buck."
In addition, she said, marijuana does not have side effects of many prescribed medications.
Cheryl D. Andrews, executive director of Washington Drug & Alcohol Commission, which provides intervention, prevention and treatment services, is concerned about the lack of medical testing.
"I feel very strongly (that) marijuana for medical use should be studied like any other medication," said Andrews. "This should not be decided by state legislators. Even though they've maybe taken the time to educate themselves, clinical trials have not been approved."
Andrews worries legalizing marijuana for medical use could lead to legalized recreational use.
"Even though we're well-intended and think we can keep this among the population that needs it, it definitely has the potential for abuse or getting in the wrong hands," she said.
Andrews said the number of youths using marijuana is on the rise and studies prove it is a gateway drug.
But Harriett Southall, 49, said using doesn't necessarily lead to other drugs.
"I don't abuse the marijuana like a lot of younger kids — I self-medicate," said the Washington resident. "I (know people) out there shooting heroin and snorting cocaine — it does not push me to go there. That's not what I want."
Southall said she smokes marijuana daily in order to relieve her chronic pain, depression and anxiety. She said she doesn't like breaking the law, but the drug relieves her pain, soothes her nerves and increases her appetite.
"I feel that man made beer and God made pot," she said. "Who do you trust?"
Southall said she doesn't use narcotics to treat pain she began experiencing after a car accident two years ago and she is honest with her doctors about her marijuana use.
"I'll do what I have to do as long as it's legal," she said. "I don't like doing it because it's not legal, but it helps me in so many ways."
If the bill is approved, patients with a qualifying condition could take marijuana in oil, vapor, pill or liquid form from a physician registered by the state. It still would not be legal to smoke it.
The 17 qualifying conditions are autism, cancer, Crohn's disease, damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Huntington's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, uncontrolled seizures, Lou Gehrig's disease, multiple sclerosis, neuropathies, neuropathic pain, Parkinson's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, sickle cell anemia and severe chronic pain in which other therapies, like prescription opiates, are ineffective.
The state would grant licenses to 25 growers and processors and as many as 50 dispensaries would be established. Growers would pay an initial registration fee and annual renewal fees.
State Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll Township, issued a statement Thursday in response to the bill, saying one of her highest priorities is ending the heroin and opioid epidemic.
"Permitting the use of medicinal cannabis offers many patients a safe alternative to highly addictive medications that are often overprescribed," she said. "Much of the struggle in passing this legislation stemmed from misinformation and preconceived notions about the use of cannabis. To this day, many in the general public do not understand that the bill is restricted to medicinal use through oils and tinctures and is not permitted to be smoked."
Bartolotta said the bill includes necessary safeguards to ensure only those individuals who can benefit will have access to the drug.
"If there's anything positive to say, legislators stayed on the side of caution," Andrews said. "They really tried to be restrictive."
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: PA: Health Experts, Residents Weigh In On Medical marijuana
Author: Natalie Reid Miller
Photo Credit: Associated Press
Website: Observer-Reporter
