Do you think patients should have the right to use medical marijuana?

pollyanna83 · Jul 16, 2006

Funny you should mention decriminalization. I wrote a paper proposing all drugs be decriminalized because that would take the profits out of the transport and sales. In addition the population group that would use would then "get high until they die" (original quote) and the individuals born with genetically low serotonin levels would not be around to reproduce more than a couple of generations of predisposed addicts. I'm just playing devils advocate here which should appeal to your "Republic of Texas" states rights leaning. All in Fun:)

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2006

And there are also plenty of cancer/HIV patients that have used MJ that can tell you that it did not do squat for nausea or appetite or pain.

What is the major shame of health care is that we have plenty of drugs with PROVEN efficacy that are too expensive (or insurance will not cover) or that MDs are reluctant to prescribe, due to the harassment from the DEA.

Morphine is one of the cheapest, most effective pain control drugs available. It is made much more expensive to handle by all the stinking DEA regulations involved in handling. It costs just as much for a single 30mg ER tab as it does for a 100mg ERtab. Yet how many MDs will prescribe 90mg (3 tabs) instead of a 100mg MSContin...because they do not know the cost.

As far as expense for cancer and HIV patients...I currently administer drugs that routinely run $12,000 a bag (only part of the regimen). We have PO meds, that are marketed so that the terminal lung Ca patient can take treatment to slow the cancer (not cure it) that run in the thousands of dollars per month. The latest HIV "miracle" pill combines several of the HAART for once per day formulation dosing, to make patients' lives EASIER. The price tag for this miracle drug is astronomical.

This drug would be a boon in Africa where we are losing several generations wholesale to HIV....where in places 30% or more of the population has the disease. But then they can't possibly benefit...because they will never be able to afford it. And the drug companies will hold on to their monopolies as long as possible, so they can pinch every dime.

I think that patients' lives would be a heck of a lot easier if they didn't have to trade off every penny that they have for a month's worth of meds, that are not even going to cure them. That they would have less nausea and stress if they weren't panicing about paying for all of this.

So excuse me, if I do not think that legalizing a drug w/plenty of known drawbacks and limited safe uses is worth all that much effort. If we cannot relax the DEA's stranglehold on MDs prescribing of LEGALLY AVAILABLE, TESTED and PROVEN meds, and get insurance coverage for legally available, proven meds...then I hold little faith that MJ stands a chance, or that our government will not find a way to screw up its' available.

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And for the lovely? person, who sent me the snide email. If you had been a member long enough, you would know that I have had chemotherapy (and stand are better than average chance of getting more in the future), and I do know of what I speak.

PANurseRN1 · Jul 17, 2006

I hope you reported that person, caroladybelle. Harrassing PMs are a violation of TOS. Shame on whoever did that.

KellNY, RN · Jul 17, 2006

You guys missed my point.
I said go ahead and decriminalize MJ - and all other drugs. Take the street value out of them and end the 'drug war' by 'flooding the market'.
But, leave the civil 'penalties' intact. Use and no job until the drugs clear your system. And, random and frequent checks on employees. .......Surely, it's not a stretch to decriminalize drugs WHILE keeping civil stigmas intact.

Do you realize that in states where MJ has been decriminalized (to a certain extent) part of the "civil penalties" include fines and fees? A cancer patient or whatever should not have to deal with $500, $300, etc, fines and fees for self medicating.

And how would Afganistan (or any other nation) be helped? Why would we stop buying from them? if it were decriminalized, (based on current state policies) it would still be illegal to grow and sell, or to posess more than a certain amount, arbitrarily deemed for "personal use".

allnurses Guide · Jul 17, 2006

tim: "medical mj is a red herring in order to legalize mj generally. if the goal is medical use for debilitated citizens, not being able to work is an afterthought."

this is exactly the truth - the whole medical mj argument is what people who want to legalize their own recreational drug use hide behind. funny, i just came from a family dinner where this was the subject . . . .

caroladybelle: "so excuse me, if i do not think that legalizing a drug w/plenty of known drawbacks and limited safe uses is worth all that much effort. if we cannot relax the dea's stranglehold on mds prescribing of legally available, tested and proven meds, and get insurance coverage for legally available, proven meds...then i hold little faith that mj stands a chance, or that our government will not find a way to screw up its' available."

clb - i think you hit the nail on the head with your comments, ending in the paragraph above. truly, there are better ways to medicate than mj and the fact that it is so hard to do so is appalling. that is where our focus should be.

steph

PANurseRN1 · Jul 17, 2006

this is exactly the truth - the whole medical mj argument is what people who want to legalize their own recreational drug use hide behind. funny, i just came from a family dinner where this was the subject . . . .

that is an unfair, borderline defamatory statement. i support medical legalization but certainly have no intention of using it myself. there's no need to demonize everyone who disagrees with your pov.

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2006

this is exactly the truth - the whole medical mj argument is what people who want to legalize their own recreational drug use hide behind. funny, i just came from a family dinner where this was the subject . . . .

kubby, the libertarian party's candidate for california governor in 1998, has lived in canada with his wife, michele, since he was convicted in december 2000 for drug law violations in placer county. he used -- and still uses -- marijuana to control the symptoms of adrenal cancer, which he fought with surgery and conventional medicine before discovering that marijuana was a more effective treatment.
cancer specialists in both california and canada have acknowledged that no other medicine will keep kubby alive, he said in a recent telephone interview from his home in british columbia.

link

since medical marijuana is legal in california, hinkle said, "they have broken no laws and should never have been arrested in the first place."

kubby, 52, had played a key role in proposition 215, overwhelmingly approved by voters in november 1996, which made it legal for seriously ill patients to grow and use marijuana with a doctor's recommendation.
since then, voters in four other states -- nevada, alaska, arizona, and washington state -- overwhelmingly passed similar laws legalizing medical marijuana.

medical marijuana was also a centerpiece of kubby's campaign for governor last year -- leading many libertarians to speculate that political considerations may have been behind the arrest. in august 1998, peter mcwilliams, best-selling author and outspoken lp advocate of medical marijuana, was arrested on similar charges.

kubby had been diagnosed with adrenal cancer in 1975 and used medical marijuana under doctor's orders. michele kubby also took medical marijuana to alleviate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

link

i re-itirate:

i'm still struggling to differentiate this issue from "should patients be allowed to use medical speed" or "should patients be allowed to use medical heroin derivatives"

etc.

if something helps me in my hour of need, i'm going to take it - to heck with what any beureucrat, judge or tom, dick and harry have to say about it.

cheers,

allnurses Guide · Jul 17, 2006

roy - i'll back off a little and say that "some" in the medical marijuana movement are talking simply about the medical use. that number is small though in comparison to folks who just want it legalized so they can get high legally.

however, if what mr. kubby says is true: "cancer specialists in both california and canada have acknowledged that no other medicine will keep kubby alive" . . . ..

. . .. then we have found the cure for at least adrenal cancer (!) and i had not heard of that.

mr. kubby says cancer specialists in california and canada acknowledged that no other med will keep him alive . . . i want to see the evidence. this is merely anecdotal and one man's opinion.

"my canadian doctor has said i need up to an ounce a day, in order to keep my lungs clear and have a healthy life. . ."

oh, and where is the evidence that marijuana is good for your lungs? i see no footnotes in that article regarding proof of either statement, that mj cures adrenal cancer (or at least keeps it at bay) or mj is good for your lungs.

steph

HD11 · Jul 18, 2006

totally, im a student and i took care of a lung cancer patient and he was dying....literally, i gave him marinol and i had the kahunas to ask if it helped....jokingly he goes "id rather have a joint, it would make things alot better." mind you i also gave him 10mg morphine iv push, 20 mg oxycontin and 500mg worth of fentanyl patches

at least he still had his humor..... :clown:

"you can't destroy your now by worrying about tomorrow."

-janis joplin

KellNY, RN · Jul 18, 2006

The kahunas?

Don't you learn about pain management? You're supposed to ask if the prescribed meds worked....

And, lol, I'm pretty sure you didn't give him 500mgs of fentanyl patches....

nighteyes719 · Jul 18, 2006

I have very sorry for what your and your family is dealing with .I do not beleive in street drug use, all us in this field have seen the drug use and the abuse. Nor do I use pot. but like i said it was the olny thing that helped my aunt when she was dieing. the cost of legal drugs was to much , and did not work unless we wanted her in a coma. beleive me it took a lot for the family to buy her the MJ against many beliefs and her own , but IT HELPED. her more than I even thought and she was able to enjoy a little more time before she went to the hospital and the only reason for that is she wanted to spare her son her death it was only for 2 weeks but the pain was much worsed then and the only way was with so much drugs she was in a coma.so I support it for those we need it not the street users..

Timothy,
please. My mother- in- law has metestatic breast cancer. She has done well untill this last year. She is in agony with no appetite to boot. She did try megace with no resluts and it is not cheap. I see nothing wrong with her using it. The poster who said it really controlled her family members discomfort, makes me hopefull. She however doesn't feel right about it. It's a shame. I would condone any thing to make her feel better. My heart is breaking. I can't stand to read strong opinions from people who really have no idea.

happytobehere · Jul 18, 2006

oh my! Potheads over drunks, and patients high on whatever they took in their medicine cabinet. Violent patient high on cocaine...... give me the pothead