Welcome to Big High Country: Medical Marijauana in Montana
Well here goes nothing.
Now, just to alleviate your anxiety, let me start by saying I have never smoked marijuana. Ever. In fact, Ive never done any drugs. Period.
In what is sure to open up a huge can of worms, I would like to discuss a topic which has become very front and center in my life. As you all know, I practice medicine in Montana. After I got here, I was quickly introduced to the fact that Montana is the tenth state in the US to legalize medical marijauna. Per federal law, it is still an illegal substance. Heres how it works. If a physician signs a form stating that a patient suffers from a debilitating condition, and that the benefits of marijuana outweigh the risks, then that said person can carry a small amount of marijuana. In addition, that person may be supplies from stores and grow a small amount of marijuana in their
I do believe that certain conditions, like terminal cancer with unbearable pain and nausea warrant THC....or whatever alleviates suffering. But what I have seen here in Montana is that everyone wants to smoke for anything. Like occasional headaches. Stress. I even have patients tell me, "I just smoke for recreation, but Im planning on getting my card." And it really is that simple. They actually have conventions, with waiting lines out the door, where a doctor sits at a desk, you give you a couple hundred of dollars, he signs the form, and off you go. Of course, unless you want to look through the numerous vendors who hawk their marijuana seeds, smoking paraphanelia, or growing tools.
So, as you may have guessed it, I dont believe in this practice. Its so serious of a problem here that I no longer treat any patients in my clinic that use marijuana. The city of Kalispell has even had to place a ban on the opening of marijuana shops in town because they are afraid we are going to becom the pot capital of the Northwest.
I had a really frustrating day with patients regarding this, and I just needed to vent. I mean, am I totally off my rocker for thinking this? Personally, for all those people looking for a high, I just want to load them up in a bus, drive them 26.2 miles from town and say "Town is that way, Ill buy you a beer when you get there. Start running. "
Comments
Dude, don't harsh my mellow...
Seriously, Greg, I don't blame you for feeling that way at all. At the end of it all, the point of medical marijuana is to treat some very serious situations. Ones that many GP's don't even get involved in. For you to feel awkwardly put in the middle between some stoners and the law is perfectly natural, and it's absolutely your right to chose not to serve that need. If there are docs out there who can say that they won't perform a particular procedure for religious reasons, I see no reason for you to go against your beliefs.
Mike
No. Never. I more of a meth man.
Personally, I prefer the white powdery stuff.
Sugar?
That explains the rant.
Its another market and the states need to get their revenues from it, like ABC stores.
Fully legalize it and the wink/nod hypocrisy surrounding it goes away, market forces take over and the initial novelty of it all eventually wears off.
Dispensary/Liquor store. Whatever. It's about the $$$$$$$. Yeah, I'm a cynic. Or maybe I'm just miffed because Blue Cross Blue Shield won't hook me up with the good sh*t.
Your comments are interesting on refusing to prescribe it to patients. I would think that if it's legal, and it is the best treatment available, in your opinion, then it should be made available. I think it's a slippery slope when doctors and pharmacists start interjecting their personal and political opinions into some of these "hot" buttons. I'd hate to have to shop for medical advice based upon political affiliation.
(maybe this should be in the off topic forum
tom
Interesting variation in opinions! I dont know whay the right answer is regarding legalizing marijuana in the future; in many ways, it seems no more dangerous than alcohol. All I get worked up over is abuse of the system. I agree that if it were a regulated legal substance, it could generate a ton of money. For the country and for Pringles.
@Tom: Yeah, maybe off topic forum would have been better. Oh well! Its not so much my political or personal opinion, but more of a logistical problem. Its the fact that I cant really tell what the combination of marijuana and prescription medicines and other treatments would do to a person. I can just see someone coming back to me and saying "Doc, you never told me that smoking pot and taking Viagara would make my penis explode!"
In any case, Im feeling better today. I had some good Pineapple Express last night to cool things over. Have ya'll noticed the EN Team colors are so vivid....
But here is the problem- if it's legal, do you want someone driving around town on it? No. How can you tell they have been smoking it? The signs are not as obvious as alcohol.
Years ago, I had a very high strung boyfriend. When he smoked marijuana he came down to a "normal" level and focus. He would get to work doing functional things like building a deck or a fence, installing a hot tub. If he kept going with the smoking after more than a few tokes, then he got into the lazy, hungry mode.
He was (maybe still is) an ER nurse and flight nurse. He did not smoke before work, and needed these high activity/ adrenaline jobs to burn off anxiety/stress. He would not be a candidate ofr medical marijuana. But I bet he'd figure out how to get it.
Anyway, there are many safety sensitive jobs in this country. Like alcohol, if folks make poor choices, they will be punished in some form or another.