Medical Marijuana: Doctor Timidity & Red Tape Need To Go Category: Economy

Posted: 07/01/15 23:33

by Dave Mindeman



Today the Medical Marijuana law took effect and patients could now get their medication. However, very few people are eligible because doctors are reluctant to get involved and the law is so very restrictive.



As to the restrictions, I feel that Minnesota's legislature was much too timid in regards to the writing of this law. They kept watering down the availability until we have come to the point that the medicine is not going to get to the people who need it fast enough.



But I am particularly disappointed with Minnesota's physicians. I understand that there is ambiguity in regards to State and Federal law - and there might be a certain risk to get into the middle of this-- I think it is minimal but it is still there.



But what I find particularly disturbing is the complaints from doctors about loss of control. As I understand it, the doctors evaluate their patients for eligibility in the program and then hand their patients over to the program for actual treatment. Yes, the doctors do not have much control about the patient treatment once the patient is in the program, but if they are not happy with the outcome they can encourage their patient to drop out and return to the doctor's course of treatment.



You have to wonder how different the doctors would be assessing the marijuana program if it had a Big Pharma company promoting these medications.



Viagra type advertising....doctors given lunches and paid seminars to consider the treatment...sales pitches from hard sell representatives. You know, the kind of thing they are used to dealing with.



You have to wonder how different the program's fortunes would be under that type of promotion.



This program deserves to move forward. It's not like we have a drug that has never been tested in humans. We know the side effects...we know what it will do. A multitude of opinions have been posted about it.



What is needed now is a chance for this program to succeed or fail on its own merits. We do not need to get hung up on speculation or innuendo. We have patients who desperately want to give this a chance. They want the opportunity to try this treatment. They want to take the risks. They want to see the outcomes directly.



The red tape and the doctors need to get out of the way and let the treatment begin.



The patients, the ones that are directly affected, are clear about this. by Dave MindemanToday the Medical Marijuana law took effect and patients could now get their medication. However, very few people are eligible because doctors are reluctant to get involved and the law is so very restrictive.As to the restrictions, I feel that Minnesota's legislature was much too timid in regards to the writing of this law. They kept watering down the availability until we have come to the point that the medicine is not going to get to the people who need it fast enough.But I am particularly disappointed with Minnesota's physicians. I understand that there is ambiguity in regards to State and Federal law - and there might be a certain risk to get into the middle of this-- I think it is minimal but it is still there.But what I find particularly disturbing is the complaints from doctors about loss of control. As I understand it, the doctors evaluate their patients for eligibility in the program and then hand their patients over to the program for actual treatment. Yes, the doctors do not have much control about the patient treatment once the patient is in the program, but if they are not happy with the outcome they can encourage their patient to drop out and return to the doctor's course of treatment.You have to wonder how different the doctors would be assessing the marijuana program if it had a Big Pharma company promoting these medications.Viagra type advertising....doctors given lunches and paid seminars to consider the treatment...sales pitches from hard sell representatives. You know, the kind of thing they are used to dealing with.You have to wonder how different the program's fortunes would be under that type of promotion.This program deserves to move forward. It's not like we have a drug that has never been tested in humans. We know the side effects...we know what it will do. A multitude of opinions have been posted about it.What is needed now is a chance for this program to succeed or fail on its own merits. We do not need to get hung up on speculation or innuendo. We have patients who desperately want to give this a chance. They want the opportunity to try this treatment. They want to take the risks. They want to see the outcomes directly.The red tape and the doctors need to get out of the way and let the treatment begin.The patients, the ones that are directly affected, are clear about this. permalink