Eight states have passed initiatives legalizing the medicinal use of cannabis. In order to implement these laws states must set up policies and a system for identifying who is using this substance for a legitamate medical purpose. In California there has been an inability at the state level to agree on a standard set of policies that would apply state-wide.This has left the fied open for individual counties and municipalities to develop policies. These policies fall into six(6) general categories: (1)Public Health-medical guidelines are set up and the patient registers with the public health dept and receives an ID card (2)Criminal Justice System- legal guidelines are set, patient registers with the police , receives an ID card (3)Delegation to the Cannabis Cooperative-City council makes umbrella policy,then DA, police physicians, patients and advocates agree to certain guidelines which are adhered to by the Cannabis Cooperative(4)Case by Case Basis-each case looked at on own merits(5)No Policy- County says"We're waiting for the state to act." (6) Arrest Everything That grows-the"I don't care what the law of California is,we're arressting all of you and letting the courts figure it out. Recently California Conference of Local Health Officers discussed this matter.They felt that this was not a public health issue.Is that the only conclusion? What are the implications to use of cannabis in the treatment of AIDS,substance abuse, chronic pain, cancer, PMS, MS,CP. What are the implications of in effect allowing the criminal justice system to practice medicine and assume powers of health dept. Covers history,pharmacolgy,Marinol v.Cannabis, scheduling.
Learning Objectives: (1)understand drug scheduling (2)explain difference between cannabis and Marinol (3)be able to discuss different approaches to implementation of state medicinal cannabis initiatives (4)Be aware of pros and cons of approaching this as a public health issue (5)have a better understanding of the history of medicinal use of cannabis
Keywords: Quality of Life, Access to Health Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.