Medical Marijuana: Medical Miracle or Slippery Slope?

by Kelli Cheatham (kcheatham@wsbt.com)

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Some people say it works better than traditional prescription pain medications, but those who aren't in favor of Michigan's new medical marijuana law say it's a dangerous public safety issue. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Apr 9, 2009 at 4:36 PM EST

Story Updated: Apr 14, 2009 at 12:29 PM EST

BERRIEN COUNTY — So far, Michigan’s Health Department says more than 200 people have applied for a medical marijuana permit. Voters passed the referendum last November, and it went into effect April 4. Some doctors and even the Berrien County prosecutor say the law has a lot of gray areas.

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But some of the people who claim to use the drug to fight chronic pain say it works — and where it comes from shouldn’t matter.

Take “Lee,” a Berrien County woman who did not want WSBT to use her real name.

She said a doctor advised her to start smoking marijuana 15 years ago. Now she smokes 3-4 joints a day.

“They had used me as a guinea pig with every other medication and it wasn't working,” she said. “My physical therapist gave up, they told me I'd be in my wheelchair the rest of my life.”

Lee told WSBT she used to be a Sunday school teacher.

“I’ve been to Bible college and all this kind of stuff. And it was just totally against what I believed,” she said.

Lee claims she suffers from severe fibromyalgia — a debilitating disease that causes chronic pain. But she says after smoking marijuana for two weeks, she was able to talk again.

With a note from her doctor, Lee applied for a controversial medical marijuana permit earlier this week.

The Cass, Van Buren and Berrien County health departments' Medical Director Dr. Rick Johansen said a lot of local doctors don’t support the new law.

“I really am worried about the slippery slope,” he said. “Will there be more marijuana use by others because of the start of this?”

Johansen said the drug has side effects, the dose is un-regulatable and it’s usually consumed by smoking.

Berrien County Prosecutor Art Cotter said he’s not sure how police can regulate the new state law, and still enforce federal law that prohibits possession, use or sale of marijuana.

“This has opened up a door that frankly advocates for the complete and total legalization of marijuana,” Cotter said. “The Obama administration has essentially said with states that have legalized marijuana, the feds have no intention of coming in and enforcing federal law.”

As for Lee, she sees nothing wrong with smoking a drug she believes is literally keeping her on her feet.

“I love living,” she said. “I love to be alive, and I don’t want to miss a moment.”

Michigan is now the 13th state to legalize some form of medical marijuana. An analysis by the House Fiscal Agency estimates between 2,000 and 55,000 people may sign up for the program.

It’s not difficult for someone to get a Michigan permit to have medical marijuana. If they have one of the chronic diseases listed — cancer, HIV, chronic pain or a debilitating medical condition — the patient can get a note from their doctor, then fill out the application through the state health department. Once they send in the form, it takes about two weeks to get the permit card in the mail.

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