Posted on 05/05/2014 8:28:37 AM PDT by TurboZamboni
With medical marijuana bills advancing at the Minnesota Capitol, both supporters and critics have been invoking the phrase "Wild West" when debating the merits of legislation.
Without more scientific evidence about risks and benefits, the prospect of legalized medical marijuana "would be kind of like the Wild West of medicine," argued Sen. Carla Nelson, R-Rochester, during a hearing in April.
In a Senate committee last week, Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, used the metaphor in a different way -- arguing that desperate patients currently face a Wild West situation of buying marijuana on the street, without knowing what they're getting.
"Or they're going without," Dibble said, "or they're being forced to move to Colorado."
The legislative showdown got more dramatic by week's end with the emergence of a House bill that would let fewer patients have medical marijuana, and only in the context of research studies. During a hearing Friday, the state health commissioner raised practical questions about how those studies might be implemented.
Here's a look at some questions and answers that emerged during a busy week for medical marijuana legislation at the Capitol.
(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...
As “medicine” how much is a dose? Is the quality consistent or are some leaves more potent or weaker than others?
Not sure about Minnesota, but Illinois better get moving. So they can start marketing “Baraq’s Brand” weed when the Obama Presidential Library / Choom Gang Museum opens in 2017.
'Specially when it's sold by a kid that's only fifteen.
“As “medicine” how much is a dose? Is the quality consistent or are some leaves more potent or weaker than others?”
The plants are highly variable. There are different strengths and chemical compositions for different symptoms. People generally try a few different ones before finding what works best.
The best method of dosing is to inhale vapor until symptoms stop. You feel it instantly, always get the optimal dose and there is no danger with toxicity/overdosing. Everyone has a different tolerance and it changes every day so standardized measured doses are meaningless for cannabis.
It’s also possible to eat it in a pill, oil or mixed with food. It will last much longer between doses but you will never get as accurate a dose.
They’re only going to allow vaporizers and/or pills, but I think it would be hard to OD on pot.
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