Catania backs medical marijuana for D.C.
D.C. Council member David A. Catania (I-At Large) introduced legislation Tuesday to implement legalized medical marijuana in the District.
Catania, chairman of the Health Committee, is responding to the decision by Congress last month to lift restrictions on medical marijuana in the city. Under Catania's bill, up to five medical marijuana dispensaries could be established in the city.
Stay with the Post for more on this developing story.
By
Washington Post editors
| January 19, 2010; 11:36 AM ET
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Posted by: MarilynManson | January 19, 2010 12:17 PM | Report abuse
Pretty obvious why Cantania would support such medical use for weed, people with Aids, or HIV, as mentioned in the previous comment.
Ok, fine, when will Mr. Cantania, get back to caring for all citizens of DC and not just the Gay community?
Thank you.
Posted by: weaverf | January 19, 2010 12:36 PM | Report abuse
@weaverf:
Um, HIV/AIDS is not limited to the gay community. Neither is cancer, for that matter.
Posted by: EdTheRed | January 19, 2010 12:57 PM | Report abuse
wow weaverf - you really need a reality check-up and get over your sense of persecution. I have serious glaucoma - already lost vision in one eye to it and will eventually lose the other eye. Cannibis is widely recognized to be helpful in dealing with glaucoma. But according to your thinking, Catania can't possibly be thinking about people like me, right?
Posted by: hohandy1 | January 19, 2010 1:10 PM | Report abuse
this issue is a joke. look at the experience in other states. lets at least be honest about the intent here.
Posted by: doughless | January 19, 2010 2:56 PM | Report abuse
A synthetic THC drug, Marinol, has been available to the public since 1985. The Food and Drug Administration has determined that Marinol is safe, effective, and has therapeutic benefits for use as a treatment for nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy, and as a treatment of weight loss in patients with AIDS. However, it does not produce the harmful health effects associated with smoking marijuana.
Any determination of a drug's valid medical use must be based on the best available science undertaken by medical professionals. The Institute of Medicine conducted a comprehensive study in 1999 to assess the potential health benefits of marijuana and its constituent cannabinoids. The study concluded that smoking marijuana is not recommended for the treatment of any disease condition. In addition, there are more effective medications currently available. For those reasons, the Institute of Medicine concluded that there is little future in smoked marijuana as a medically approved medication.
Posted by: triciab1 | January 19, 2010 3:49 PM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.
medical marijuana does relieve the suffering of those with chronic and terminal illnesses. I'm all for it. I've seen my share of sick relatives dying in hospital beds and anything we can do to reduce human suffering must be done.