3 states face marijuana votes on decriminalization, medical treatment

To date, nine states have legalized medical use of the substance.

By Tanya Albert, AMNews staff. Nov. 1, 2004.

Medical societies in three states are fighting to see November ballot initiatives dealing with marijuana go down in flames. The groups argue that the measures are bad for public health.

Voters in Alaska, which legalized medical marijuana in 1998, will decide whether to decriminalize marijuana altogether for adults. In Oregon, voters face a question of whether to expand existing medical marijuana laws. And Montana voters will decide whether to legalize medical marijuana, which would make the state the 10th to do so.

AMA policy calls for "further adequate and well-controlled studies" of medical use of marijuana and other related cannabinoids in patients with serious conditions for which preclinical, anecdotal or controlled evidence suggests that the drug might help. The Association opposes legalization of the substance for nonmedical use.

Last month, the Alaska State Medical Assn. joined with Gov. Frank Murkowski and state and local police to oppose the measure in Alaska.

"The medical society doesn't want public health problems, and this would create public health problems," said ASMA President Paul Worrell, MD. "It is not going to make the community a better place to live."

The ballot initiative would do away with civil and criminal penalties for those 21 and older who "grow, use, sell or give away marijuana or other hemp products."

The "Yes On 2" group that has formed to support the initiative said that its passage would protect Alaskans' right to privacy and protect patients with cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS and other conditions who use the substance as a way to manage their diseases.