It’s simply not true in nearly all cases. Yet the argument persists…
…Utah’s Governor Herbert, for example, made an ill-advised and offensive joke about the medical cannabis movement in early 2016:
“I’m not interested in having Dr. Feelgood out there say ‘ya,ya, que pasa, here’s your doobie for the day and you’ll feel better.’ That’s probably not where I want to go.”
He received a good deal of criticism for this, even from some legislators, and tried to back away by saying it was a George Carlin reference. He has mostly been more careful with his words since then.
Still, if any demographic of patients is benefitting from and are grateful for medical cannabis, as this article highlights, it would be hard to find a group – many would have thought unlikely to to embrace it not so many years ago – more so than senior citizens who often suffer from a variety of painful, chronic conditions, and whose minds and bodies are not able to deal adequately with the side effects of opioid medications.
“According to the state of AZ, roughly 22 percent of current card holders are 61 and older, up from 13 percent in 2011.
Barbara Kaiser is one of 1,300 people 81 years and older who hold a card in Arizona.”
For these folks, MC offers a real alternative for a more active, satisfying and less painful life.
The article also addresses another frequent criticism: that the right doses medical cannabis aren’t known in advance of patient use. Which is true. And also in no way an issue that’s of any special medical concern. Here’s why:
Opponents act like dosing with pharmaceutical meds is an exact science when it’s anything but. Doctors start off with certain doses of any prescription drug and then adjust doses – often several times or even regularly – based on how the patient responds. This is called “titrating dosages” (See e.g., http://ift.tt/2tBq7jw) and there’s nothing unique or uncommon about it.
The same process is used in establishing doses of medical cannabis: start off with small amounts and adjust until an optimal dosage is found. And with cannabis, given its exceptionally low toxicity profile, adjustments are safer because of generally many fewer side effects and relatively minimal negative interactions with most other drugs.
In sum, the patients highlighted here are just one positive example of the people in all kinds of life situations and special needs categories who can benefit from safe, legal access.
#MMJ #ChronicPain #Seniors #UTpol #AZpol #UtahNext #TRUCE
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See full article – Seniors cast aside stereotypes, find relief in medical marijuana
