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

[Brian]

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

Please post your opinions and reply to our survey. Thanks

[Sean 91]

Sorrry, ER nurse 46, I just used methadone as an example (something we see prescribed on the floor about 1-2 times per year anyway--I guess I just should have mentioned Percocet). But menthadone and oxy are still prescribed for home use with the patient being the self-medicator. Are you suggesting that marajuana would be safer. Here are some side effects available on the Web, just for the sake of argument:

• Poor memory
  
• Slowed reaction time
  
• Difficulty concentrating
  
• Sleepiness
  
• Anxiety
  
• Paranoia
  
• Altered time perception
  
• Red, bloodshot eyes
  
• stained teeth and gums
  

• Tremors
  
• Nausea
  
• Headache
  
• Decreased coordination
  
• Respiratory problems
  
• Increased appetite (non-nutritious snack food often chosen--so, poor nutrition)
  
• Reduced blood flow to the brain
  
• Changes in the reproductive organs
  

Nonetheless, I am not opposed to its use.

[Iam46yearsold]

methadone and oxy are used at home. And safely also. But they are both often abused. Then you your risk is death.

All those risks you see listed are also listed in a movie called Reefer Madness. Still while a being a euphoric, it is still one of the safest drugs out there. And it has many beneficial uses.

[Iam46yearsold]

I know quite a few who have achieved this task without any difficulty. All were glad to assist in this situation.

[I love my cat!]

I think MJ should be legalized, esp. for those who are ill and could benefit from it. Seems a bit barbaric and selfish (and ignorant) to deprive a person from a substance that could make their lives better.

As some have mentioned, tax it and regulate it. And as others have mentioned, although it could be hard to regulate it because some people would grow it themselves, market MJ as alcohol is currently sold.

Sure a person could brew alcohol at home, but it can be a hassle and it is just so much easier to just go out and buy it! I'm sure this would be the same for MJ. Market it with different brands, different strengths, different marketing, different packaging, etc.

I have patients with chronic pain, many are under medicated. Some cannot get the analgesics they need (and that's disgusting, but that's another thread) and others cannot handle the medication at all. So, they should suffer? Ridiculous. Why shouldn't they have the right to try and use MJ? Many of these patients end up self-medicating with alcohol or street drugs and this is way worse than smoking MJ, to me.

I'm all for legalization and I don't even smoke the stuff. I certainly don't believe that because something is legal that everyone will do it either.

[tnrose]

May I ask why you feel this way? I have heard first-hand from cancer, chronic pain patient's that this is a great help to them.

[tnrose]

why? and can you explain your reasoning?

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

I have no problem with home grown pot for personal medicinal and recreational use. We should license and sell certified marijuana through pharmacies.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I say legalize it, tax the yoink out of it and if anything is going to be illegal, it should be cigarettes that have absolutely zero health benefit. And Oreo cookies too, for that matter.

[OC85]

I'm sure someone already pointed this out somewhere, but....

It seems terribly hypocritical, to me, for the federal government to be so against medicinal marijuana, yet narcotic pain relievers are OK, somehow. How can someone say, with a straight face, that they believe medicinal marijuana should be illegal, but there is no problem with taking a painkiller derived from opium, just as long as you paid a pharmaceutical company loads of money for the privilege? Furthermore, I think growing your own marijuana for medicinal, or even recreational use should be absolutely legal. Make it illegal to sell without a license, if you want, but I don't think the government should have the kind of authority to dictate what people can and cannot grow and consume in their own homes.

[Iam46yearsold]

I have never seen anyone list marijuana as an allergy before on their allergy bracelets.Have you.

[systoly]

Only if they share. Seriously, my answer is yes. I would consider any substance or agent that has the potential to improve quality of life. Also, we are talking about medical marijuana, which makes me think it should be synthetic and not available for smoking. Of course one could crush a pill and find a way to smoke it, but then again, aren't we doing something similar when we give morphine per nebulizer? One thing I would like to know about medical marijuana - does the user develope tolerance?

[rph3664]

Only if they share. Seriously, my answer is yes. I would consider any substance or agent that has the potential to improve quality of life. Also, we are talking about medical marijuana, which makes me think it should be synthetic and not available for smoking. Of course one could crush a pill and find a way to smoke it, but then again, aren't we doing something similar when we give morphine per nebulizer? One thing I would like to know about medical marijuana - does the user develope tolerance?

My understanding about medical marijuana is that the people who use it legitimately are just like people who use pain meds legitimately - they use only what they need, they do not lie to acquire extra supplies, and in the case of medical MJ, they do not seem to develop the amotivational syndrome that recreational users often acquire.

As for nebulized morphine, we use the injectable morphine, not crushed tablets or solution.