New York Daily News – by GLENN BLAIN , KENNETH LOVETT
You can inhale — but only if the pot’s been vaporized.
New York State’s medical marijuana bill, the Compassionate Care Act, is expected to be passed in Albany Friday.
But the bill contains a controversial proviso: patients can’t get their dose of the drug by smoking it, even though some experts say that’s the best way to deliver its medicinal properties.
The bill would allow approved users to ingest the drug orally, or through oils and tinctures.
© JASON REDMOND / REUTERS/REUTERSThe bill would allow approved users to ingest the drug orally, or through oils and tinctures. Pictured are Seattle Seahawks-themed marijuana cupcakes.Patients can only inhale if the drug has been vaporized, as happens with e-cigarettes.
Minnesota is the only state among the 22 that have already approved medical pot that bars smoking it.
Advocates aren’t happy. “”We are disappointed to learn that eligible conditions have been limited …. despite strong medical evidence about the benefits of smoked and raw cannabis,” said Gabriel Sayegh, of the Drug Policy Alliance.
CHARLOTTE SOUTHERN/FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWSPatients can only inhale if the drug has been vaporized, as happens with e-cigarettes. Pictured are marijuana-laced treats.“We strongly believe that the decision about the mode of administration for any medication should be left up to doctor and their patients,” he said.
Acting state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said too much is known about the dangers of smoking to condone it — even for medical purposes.
“We’ve spent millions of dollars on the effort to eliminate smoking and it goes against all the wisdom of public health to turn our backs on all that we’ve done in this area,” he said.
MIKE GROLL/APAssemblyman Dick Gottfried (D-Manhattan) (left), the longtime sponsor of the Assembly medical marijuana bill, said he gave in on the smoking issue to accommodate Gov. Cuomo.Oils, pills and vaporization can be as effective as smoke in bringing relief, he said.
Sayegh disagreed.
“The cost of purchasing a vaporizer and the extract products will likely leave many low-income patients behind, and there is little research on the long-term health effects,” the advocate noted.
MIKE GROLL/APCuomo, citing the state’s efforts to combat smoking, would not sign off on a deal unless it contained the ban on puffing.Assemblyman Dick Gottfried (D-Manhattan), the longtime sponsor of the Assembly medical marijuana bill, said he gave in on the smoking issue to accommodate Gov. Cuomo.
“Hopefully the vaporizing method … will work and be affordable to people,” he said.
With Ginger Adams Otis
“Patients can only inhale if the drug has been vaporized, as happens with e-cigarettes.”
A pack of Zig Zags is between $1 & $2. Thirty two papers to a pack. Some of those e-cig ripoffs cost $200 or more.
The so-called ‘government’ stands to make FAR more off those overpriced delivery systems than off a pack of Zig Zags.
Economics. It’s all about the mammon.