Supervised/Safe Injection sites

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Permalink Reply by Joe P. on October 20, 2009 at 12:16am

Ben Waller said:

"Only" risking federal prison time for drug dealing for medical marijuana? "Only"????
That's like saying that childbirth without an epidural "only" hurts the mother a little bit.

I'd argue that the chances of facing federal charges for medicinal marijuana dealing is significantly less than the average street dealer. Especially considering that, due to the nature of the business, medical marijuana dealers have to operate out in the open and are still around. It's a risk of the business and not a risk to be underestimated.

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Permalink Reply by dr-exmedic on October 20, 2009 at 10:01pm

Ben Waller said:

Anyway, it was just announced (CNN, 11 PM news) that the Administration has directed federal prosecutors to stop prosecuting medical marijuana cases. Anyone feeling sick?

Yes, but only because if I had to design the worst possible delivery device for a medication, I would insist that pts inhale lungfuls of toxic smoke along with the med.... :D Marijuana certainly has certain legitimate medicinal properties but brownies or hash oil would be a much better delivery device (although the food scolds would certainly debate me on the brownies).

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Permalink Reply by Joe P. on October 20, 2009 at 10:55pm

dr-exmedic said:

Yes, but only because if I had to design the worst possible delivery device for a medication, I would insist that pts inhale lungfuls of toxic smoke along with the med.... :D Marijuana certainly has certain legitimate medicinal properties but brownies or hash oil would be a much better delivery device (although the food scolds would certainly debate me on the brownies).

CNBC produced a special called "Marijuana Inc: Inside America's Pot Industry." One of the things that they covered was medical marijuana including one of the popular dispensaries in Oakland. They had just about every delivery method that you could think of, including various food items.

Here's a clip from the CNBC website. http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?play=1&video=995212168

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Permalink Reply by Chance Gearheart on October 20, 2009 at 11:48pm

Hey, ExMedic. I think I have glaucoma. Can you help me? :P

dr-exmedic said:

Ben Waller said:

Anyway, it was just announced (CNN, 11 PM news) that the Administration has directed federal prosecutors to stop prosecuting medical marijuana cases. Anyone feeling sick?

Yes, but only because if I had to design the worst possible delivery device for a medication, I would insist that pts inhale lungfuls of toxic smoke along with the med.... :D Marijuana certainly has certain legitimate medicinal properties but brownies or hash oil would be a much better delivery device (although the food scolds would certainly debate me on the brownies).

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Permalink Reply by dr-exmedic on October 22, 2009 at 8:08pm

Chance Gearheart said:

Hey, ExMedic. I think I have glaucoma. Can you help me? :P

There are many things I will do but move to CA is not one of them. Now when PA gets its own medical marijuana law, then we'll talk. ;)

I think my favorite interview of a medical MJ patient was a woman who got it prescribed for PMS, and the interviewer asked "So you smoke it 4 or 5 days out of the month, then?" and the pt said, "No, every day."

CNBC produced a special called "Marijuana Inc: Inside America's Pot Industry." One of the things that they covered was medical marijuana including one of the popular dispensaries in Oakland. They had just about every delivery method that you could think of, including various food items.

Yeah, you can satisfy your munchies as you get them. :)

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Permalink Reply by Rob Theriault on October 27, 2009 at 11:23pm

I think that on the surface the ethical issue stems from the perception that providing clean needles is in essence condoning the drug habit and all the crime that surrounds the drug user. Another way to look at it is from the benefits vs. risk perspective. I think we can all list the risks, but here are the benefits as I perceive them:
1. drug addicts come into a centre where, in addition to giving them clean needles, there is an opportunity start a dialogue and hopefully connect with them and help them kick the addiction and rehabilitate.
2. clean needles reduces the incidence of local and systemic infection thus lowering the health care costs that we ALL pay for (whether you're Canadian or American or from anywhere else)
3. public health gets a much clearer picture of the problem and the people who are affected.

Ethics asside, I think it's primarily a case of the benefits outweigh the risks.

cheers
Rob (my blog: Paramedic Tutor)

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