HERALD EDITORIAL: Approval of Proposal 1 is a win for individuals and a loss for pharmaceuticals

We are endorsing approval of proposal 1 on the Michigan ballot in the upcoming general election.
Proposal 1 will permit the use and cultivation of marijuana for specified medical conditions.  If approved
Michigan would join 13 other states that do not penalize medical use of marijuana at the state level.

Prop 1 would increase availability of options for doctors to treat patients with serious chronic conditions such as cancer and HIV.  In many of these cases the patients will suffer long-term effects where treatment is the only option in the absence of a cure.  We support any measure that will improve the quality of life for one demographic with minimal effects to the rest of society.  Under Prop 1 medical marijuana would still be considered a controlled substance and misuse by patients would incur penalties.

The American Medical Association (AMA) publicly condemns the legalization of medicinal cannibis and recommends the retention of schedule-I restriction.  A schedule-I restrictions include drugs such as heroin and peyote and they are not available for prescription use due to their addictive nature and lack of known medical efficacy.  Narcotics with schedule-II classifications or lower are available for prescription use and some of these include cocain, oxycodone and opium.  Drugs such as Xanex and Prozac are schedule-IV and are readily prescribed.  As a note the AMA is heavily influenced by the pharmaceutical industry and availability of medicinal marijuana would provide a substitute for their products.

Proposal 1 cites research from National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine indicating benefits, “in treating or alleviating the pain, nausea, and other symptoms associated with a variety of debilitating medical conditions.”  The intent of the proposal is not to legitimize the recreational use of this narcotic but to expand options to doctors and patients suffering debilitating conditions.

The important aspect of Proposal 1 is that it increases financial independence for those who need it most.  Patients receiving prescriptions for medicinal marijuana will be able to provide for themselves by replacing expensive maintainence medications with medicinal marijuana grown in controlled environments.  The only group with anything to lose is the pharmacutical lobby.  In the current pharmaceutical environment a company must aim for at least billion dollars in revenue for each new drug due to the high costs of research and development.  Medicinal marijuana could reduce pharmaceutical sales and as such is considered a threat by industry.

Approving Proposal 1 would be a victory for the individual.  The chronically sick will incur tremendous personal expense regardless of passage of Proposal 1, however voters in Michigan have an option to improve their daily routines.  Allowing individuals in this unfortunate demographic to retain more of their money rather than providing corporations with revenue to further lobby our legislators is the responsible decision.

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=1685

Posted by HeraldAdmin on Oct 27 2008. Filed under Editorial, Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Cody Kimball
Web Manager: I'm a Communication Student at WMU, a SCUBA Diver, Boater, Ordained Minister, Notary Public, Web Designer, Film Maker, DJ, and of course a Journalist. Born and raised in Port Huron, MI and a graduate of SC4. http://www.codykimball.com