Columnist Richard Gammick: Medicinal marijuana is already available

Richard Gammick

Thursday, Nov. 2, 2000 | 9:34 a.m.

Richard Gammick is district attorney of Washoe County.

As you are aware, this year's ballot contains Question 9, which again raises the issue of legalizing marijuana. As explained below, there are some dangers in the passage of this initiative, which our society cannot afford now or in the future.

Did you know that "medical or medicinal marijuana" already exists and is available by prescription? Did you know it is indicated for the treatment of:

1. Anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with AIDS; and 2. Nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in patients who have failed per the latest version of the Physicians Desk Reference, the medical authority for prescription medications. Did you know that this drug (Marinol) was tested on AIDS and chemotherapy patients and was found to result in a statistically significant improvement in appetite as well as improved body weight and mood and decreases in nausea, per the PDR. Marinol is a tested prescription medication known in quality and quantity available today through licensed medical professionals, who do not know how much "medicine" is in a "roach" (marijuana cigarette).

Dr. William Anderson, the chief toxicologist at the Washoe County Crime Lab, was asked about the difference between Marinol and marijuana. Marinol, when used as prescribed, does not produce the intense "buzz" or "high" associated with smoking marijuana.

With Marinol available now through prescription, why does Question 9, an effort to amend the Nevada Constitution to legalize marijuana, an illicit and dangerous street drug, even exist? It is simply a back door attempt to legalize "smoking dope" by playing on the sympathy of voters using terminally or seriously ill patients. With Marinol available now, Question 9 is duplicative and will result in far-reaching problems, particularly where our children are concerned.

A few months ago the Western Governors Association prepared a paper on drug abuse, collecting information from 12 Western states, including Nevada. The report states, "Youth initiation of Marijuana and cocaine are at historically high levels, including initiation by pre-teens." And what is the message we are sending our young people? Drugs are bad for you and do not use them, but because there are some people who want to "smoke dope" legally, it is OK. This is a distinction without meaning, particularly with the availability of Marinol.

Enforcement of these laws in California has been an absolute nightmare. The controls suggested in Question 9 do not fit the current statewide system for reporting and tracking prescription medications. Experience has shown that the nature of marijuana makes it very difficult to combat, especially where it is legalized for some purposes and not for others. Paraphernalia used with marijuana is also used for other illicit drugs. Police would become even more mired down trying to figure out what is legal and what is not.

Think before you vote. Aren't illicit dangerous drugs prevalent enough in Nevada without you saying it is OK? Can we afford the greater risk to our children by legalizing marijuana just so people can smoke "dope," rather than take an available prescription medication.