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Monday, August 09, 2010
Pot Program? Just Trust Us
By Dr. Alfredo Vigil
New Mexico Secretary of Health
Why the paranoia over the state's pot program?
The Journal asked a very good question in its editorial by this same name on Aug. 5. Just what is the Journal's paranoia all about?
The premise of the Journal's interest is that there might be a bunch of "Dr. Feelgood" types who are hijacking the medical marijuana program for personal gain. The reporter and editors apparently doesn't trust the New Mexico Medical Board to perform its responsibility of monitoring the work of the state's physicians and have decided to take the job on themselves. After all, who better to police physicians than opinionated newspaper columnists and editors?
The Journal makes the feeble claim that its justification is transparency in government, overlooking the fact that its interest is in revealing the doctors and the medical decisions that are being made. What does outing physicians who are trying to relieve the suffering of their patients have to do with keeping government honest?
The Journal neglected to mention the biggest challenge we face in operating a medical cannabis program under state law. Marijuana use is illegal under federal law. Patients don't forget that, and physicians certainly have that on their minds when considering whether to certify that someone is eligible to be in our program. We already have many physicians who are too worried about a potential negative impact on their practice to certify patients. We hear from frustrated New Mexicans who are coping with severe health conditions, and they can't find a physician willing to say they could benefit from medical cannabis.
The Journal wants to see if there are a few physicians who are certifying many patients. What's too many? Who decides — the Journal?
The Journal expressed concern that secrecy will ruin the program. It is a shame the Journal is unable to recognize New Mexico's attempt to protect the safety of patients and support physicians and nonprofits that are willing to participate in a program that is illegal under federal law. It seems the Journal is more interested in getting whatever information it can, regardless of whether there is any public value in publishing that information.
This program was authorized under state law because it was the right thing to do for New Mexicans who need relief from their debilitating conditions. We are trying to do the right thing by supporting our program participants and carefully creating a regulated distribution system. Sometimes getting information for the sake of having it isn't the right thing to do.
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