27/09/2022
MEDICAL CANNABIS: WHERE ARE WE?
A couple of months ago I saw a 22 year old man complaining of a one week history of constant morning vomiting lasting 6-8 hours, from the time he arose in the morning until, sometimes, early afternoon. Long story short, after he stopped using ma*****na his problem resolved.
I remember about 20 years ago I had a female patient, with bipolar disorder, in her early 30s, share with me that when she smoked ma*****na that her moods stabilized; that she felt “normal”. When I first heard this I thought she might be imagining it. But I made a point to ask later patients with bipolar if they ever tried ma*****na. After composing their surprise that they would be asked that question, more than a few admitted they had, and that they had a positive, “normal,” experience.
Then, sometime later I came across a study on this very thing, the questionable benefits of ma*****na in the treatment of persons with bipolar disorder. Turns out the study found it was a misperception of the user. That in fact, their untreated bipolar symptoms continued, as testified by family members, in spite of the subject’s perception that they were “well”.
Anyway, we now have on the books the legal use of medical ma*****na in Mississippi. It’s quite regulated.
Only certain medical conditions qualify as treatable conditions with ma*****na.
Current law requires a patient to consult a licensed medical ma*****na doctor who determines if one of a list of medical conditions exist. If the doctor diagnoses you with a qualifiable medical condition and you are approved, the doctor will fill out a certification form for medical ma*****na.
You then take this form and apply to the state. People between the ages of 18 and 23 will be required to have written certifications from TWO different medical doctors (MD) or doctors of osteopathic medicine (DO) from TWO separate medical practices in order to qualify for the medical cannabis program.
The state lists about twenty medical conditions for which ma*****na is deemed an acceptable treatment. They primarily include cancer, epilepsy, chronic pain failed on opiates, and a host of neurodegenerative disorders, like multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, agitated Alzheimer’s, and others. Once you apply to the state, the state will process your application and then notify you of your approval and mail your card. With the card, you can then begin buying from designated and state-approved dispensaries. The license will need to be recertified annually, having to see a licensed physician again for the recertification.
The State Health Department began accepting applications for medical ma*****na cards in June 2022, but the MSDH anticipates that medical cannabis will not be available for patients until late 2022.
People under the age of 21 require consent of their parents or guardian who will be responsible for controlling the administration of cannabis as well as its dosage. Minors will NOT be able to enter a dispensary unaccompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
The application fee is $25 and then $25 for every annual renewal.
Also, patients are able to designate caregivers to obtain their medical cannabis from a dispensary. Caregivers’ application is $25. Caregivers must be over 21 years old, and free from criminal convictions or felonies. Patients and caregivers cannot grow their own cannabis in Mississippi.
Regardless of a patient being legally qualified to use ma*****na, employers are still allowed to do drug tests on their employees and apply their determined policy in line with their normal business practices. Meaning if the company’s policy is no drugs in your system and you test positive, then the policy applies to you, in spite of your claim that it is no longer contraband.
Despite it being well-designed and structured, the program is almost certainly vulnerable to abuse from all sides of the matter. This is a “medicine” that’s made its way into the healthcare system born not from a therapeutic source but from a recreational source. Like Adderall, Xanax, Tramadol, and other prescription pleasure-inducing medications, there will almost certainly be diversion and deception. I mean, really – it’s ma*****na.
I’m trying to think of another legal prescription medication that produced such a clamoring for legalization before its legalization, on the same scale as ma*****na.
This is an interesting phenomenon.
Utility-wise, I put it on the same level as alcohol. Alcohol has its therapeutic effects when used appropriately: anxiety, social phobia (“liquid courage”), depression, agitation, sleeplessness, appetite improvement, indigestion, sedation pre-operatively (purportedly in the 50s, UMC did so with toddler surgery).
But like ma*****na, there’s no medical condition that alcohol treats for which we have no indicated prescription medication. Yes, I understand the anecdotal claims, and maybe this might turn out to be the case as studies continue. I can see the headlines now, “Weed has been found to be the only cure for X!”
Anyway, we’re breaking new ground. It’ll be interesting to see how it all pans out.
Be smart, stay healthy.
