Wash. Says Medical Marijuana Patients Can Keep 24 Ounces Plus 15 Plants

Wash. Says Medical Marijuana Patients Can Keep 24 Ounces Plus 15 Plants
October 7, 2008

News Summary

The Washington State Department of Health has formally defined what constitutes a 60-day supply of marijuana, 10 years after a statewide ballot initiative legalized medical use of the drug for certain patients, the Seattle Times reported Oct. 3.

The state legislature ordered health officials to clarify the law by specifying exactly how much marijuana patients may keep on hand under the statute. The new rule sets the 60-day supply specified (but not defined) by the law as 24 ounces of marijuana plus 15 plants.

Medical-marijuana advocates said the new rule is inadequate and unrealistic. "I'm disappointed. I think it's more politically driven -- they used politics rather than science" in determining amounts, said Greg Carter, a University of Washington professor who was an early researcher on using marijuana to treat the symptoms of Lou Gehrig's disease.

Other advocates complained that the rule doesn't account for marijuana's growing cycle and makes no distinction between mature and immature plants. Steve Sarich, director of an advocacy group that provides starter plants to patients, said medical-marijuana patients need to start 60 plants in order to get 15 or 20 that reach maturity.

King County law-enforcement officials played down concerns that the limits will prompt prosecutions of sick patients who are approved to use marijuana. "Having this rule, having some amount ... is helpful, but it's not the end of the analysis," said prosecutor Dan Satterberg. "If you're in King County and you're dying of cancer, we're not going to prosecute you if you have 15 plants or 30."

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Jerry Jan on 08 Oct 08 08:15 AM EDT

If this is all about real medical issues, rather than recreational marijuana use, why are "patients" being allowed to produce their own pharmaceutics? Is there any precedent for this? What's next, take home oxycontin kits available at Kmart?

Posted by Pete on 08 Oct 08 09:19 AM EDT

I have to agree with Jerry. What an odd mental image to imagine a seriously ill patient forced to tend to dozens of plants for at-home pharmaceutical production. If marijuana does offer real pain-control benefits, surely there is a more systematic way to produce it and a better method for drug delivery than "smoking a joint." Also, has anyone thought of the potential danger of these patients being singled out by criminals planning to rob them at "harvest time"? The current system seems to take far too much of a Cheech and Chong approach to a serious matter.

Posted by Sonja Parkhill on 08 Oct 08 09:32 AM EDT

It's my understanding that there is a prescription drug by the name of Marinol ( Which is just the THC) so why are we suggesting planting Marijuana when Marinol can be used.......................

Posted by John from Oceanside on 08 Oct 08 11:59 AM EDT

Twenty Four Onces for 60 days!!! That means that the so called sick person would have to smoke over a 1/3 of an ounce a day. That's roughly 10 joints a day. Give me a break. The so called sick person cannot drive because they will always under the influence, so the license should be taken away. Also where is the rest of the weed going to go. An average plant produces one pound of buds, so where is the fourteen and half pounds going to go? It will probable be trucked down to California and ditributed to the youth of Washington.

Posted by Jon on 08 Oct 08 12:14 PM EDT

As an AIDS patient, it is difficult to get prescription drug benefits, my costs are over $30,000 a year. Giving me the ability to grow a couple plants would give me a hobby, but also provide a safe, natural pain relieving, appetite increasing medication at low cost. Marinol is not a good solution for most. It costs $1200 a month and is not easily swallowed by those throwing up. It also does not provide relief for up to 45 minutes. Inhaled marijuana is instant relief. I hope you all will do more research and have some compassion. Think about those terminally ill people who get relief from marijuana. Stop arresting our kids for marijuana. Jail and prison is much more harmful to them. Stop the war on marijuana today!

Posted by Jon on 08 Oct 08 12:27 PM EDT

Jerry Jan- Marijuana is not Oxycontin. Marijuana has never killed anyone and is not physically addictive like opiates. Tylenol kills 800 people a year, should we ban Tylenol and arrest people who get relief from it?

Posted by John from Oceanside on 08 Oct 08 12:40 PM EDT

Dear Jon people die from smoking and driving all the time we had 5 teenagers die in two crashed last year. As for individuals going to prison for simple use its not happening. I know the numbers you will quote and it is all Drug Policy Alliance made up numbers. People in prison might have a marijuana charge along with the robdery, or assault which sent them to prison. Most of the time an individual get a ticket.

Posted by Jerry Jan on 08 Oct 08 02:27 PM EDT

Jon - marijuana is indeed addictive as has been demonstrated by clinical studies accepted by both sides of this debate. Just because the detrimental effects of marijuana use are arguably less volatile in the short run compared to alcohol and other illicit drugs is no reason to accept in into mainstream society as harmless. That's like saying, "Hey vote for this candidate because he's not as bad as Hitler or Stalin." The fact is that all addiction marginalizes human beings - some more quickly than others. And you could make a case that the slower the detrimental effects, the more potentially dangerous, seen in the long term.

Posted by Douglas on 16 Oct 08 07:28 PM EDT

You people are not showing any intelligence in regards to this issue whatsoever. First of all, marijuana is NOT physically addictive. Do you know the difference between drugs like heroin or cocaine and marijuana? Heroin and cocaine are physically addictive. No one "needs" to get a "fix" of marijuana. Second, marijuana has MANY medicinal uses. Get over the reefer madness mentality, do some research, and learn the meaning of "compassion" instead of persecution/prosecution.

Posted by Kaye Ginter on 03 Dec 08 05:14 AM EST

How cute jerry,It is our federal goverment who is behind the scursed war of marajuana.there will be no change until we the people and of the people change the federal goverment rulings on marajuana. I sugest get out there and help change the law.Make guidelines for distibuting and prescribing. Talk is cheep . Actions are better.

Posted by Kimber on 03 May 09 06:03 PM EDT

Marihuana is still designated as a Class 1 controlled substance by the DEA - no known medical use. The WSMA overwhelmingly voted to advocate to make it a Class 2 substance. Having it a class 1 is not consistent with the current science, and while there are a number of reasonable concerns about individuals self prescribing with marijuana,bottom line our current policies are, in my opinion not rational. I find most discussions similar to those that people on separate sides of the political isle have when arguing some policy point of view. Both sides have reasonable arguments but both are based on their "perspectives" and predjudices. Hence I consider Marijuana policies are "political" It is unfortuanate that Marinol or Silvex, oral forms of THC are not available whether because of their expense or the lack of money present to get further DEA approval. Oral routes are clearly safer. Steps also need to be taken to assure patients know that there are ways to readily produce "orally" available thc from marijuana. Likewise, all patients who are taking it medically need to be screened for Hepatitis C, if they haven't been already. Clear evidence that it furthers the liver fibrosis that can occur in Hapatitis C patients.

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