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OPINION: Patients Have Rights, But Maybe Not in Colorado |
Robert Steele | 2/8/10
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For several weeks now, ever since I learned of Senator Romer's proposed regulations, I have made an effort to communicate to you, the legislators, how ill conceived a plan I thought this was.
There is no “Common Sense” in this bill, there is no moderation in this bill — there is NO ANYTHING, in big capital letters, in this bill. I personally believe that it is the anger and the outrage felt by the law enforcement community, some in the legislature and other groups that feel all use of marijuana should be illegal. They don’t care that the people of Colorado changed the State Constitution to include this as a right for patients in a very limited group the right to treat their condition with this medication.
Now the Senate — save one brave soul — has passed this poorly thought out bill and passed it on to the House. It is to the Colorado House of Representatives this letter is drafted.
First let me say that I have great respect for the job you do, and I realize it is not an easy one. This proposed bill before you does not confront a problem, it does not assure safety for the public — it is a punitive measure against the small number of people registered with the CDPHE.
 Senator Romer and others claim this is a “Common Sense” approach to the CDPHE’s cause for concern at the number of patients authorized by a few Colorado doctors. The law in A 20 is specific, in so much as it requires a doctor to examine a patient, their records and make a recommendation. SB 109 wants to change this and force patients to make repeated trips to this doctor in an effort to prove a bona fide doctor patient relationship.
This is absurd. When I go to the dentist, if he prescribes Vicodan for pain, am I going to be required to go and see him again to prove a bona fide doctor patient relationship? After I had shoulder surgery some years ago I was prescribed Percodan for the pain. I had a large prescription for these powerful and highly addictive drugs and never was I required to visit the doctor or the hospital after the surgery.
I have never before in my life learned of something so ignorant as to legislate the relationship between a doctor and a patient. It's not common sense; it is a cowardly attempt by those crying foul to impede, interrupt, and punish the Medical Marijuana Industry.
All of the Senators who voted for the bill should be ashamed of themselves for either being pushed around by their peers into voting for this, or for being so narrow-minded that they feel they must take revenge against a group of people who are either dying, or battling debilitating pain on a daily basis.
Part of the argument is these five to fifteen doctors who are credited with the enrolment of 49 percent of the patients on the registry. What you should be doing is looking into that, the doctors are getting rich writing these recommendations — but your bill only makes them richer.
Furthermore I believe it is because these doctors dared to step outside the boundaries of what some (Senator Romer, the state attorney general, and various law enforcement agencies) still consider an illegal substance — constitution be damned, and how dare they authorize these sick people to have marijuana!
There are solutions to the issues, solutions that will be effective without placing more burdens on the very people this constitutional amendment was enacted to help. Vote this bill down and let's get it right the first go round. Start talking to the people affected by this. Let's have a short discussion about what will and will not do the job.
Don’t just lock step this and jam it through the House.
I have a condition, that is incurable, untreatable, and eventually life threatening. I do not want to spend any more time or money in the doctors office; I just want to live my life. If you believe that you as elected officials have the right to tell me when I must see the doctor then you are in the wrong government. This is America, the land of the free! You will not tell me when to see the doctor, you will not tell me which doctor to see, you will follow the law and do your job to serve the people of Colorado.
I have said it before — outside of the cause for concern outlined in the CDPHE news release — please tell me how this Medical Marijuana issue has threatened the safety of the community? Please show me proof that this issue is a threat in any way.
The next bill in the wings I have heard is trying to make all of the dispensaries Non-Profit. Well, this confirms what I have thought all along:
It's about the money.
This entire thing is about the potential millions if not billions of dollars this program is going to produce. And furthermore I believe that some of the representatives in the state house don’t quite like the people involved. I feel from my correspondence with several Senators and members of the house that they regard these people as “Dirty Hippies” or “Pot Heads.”
Well, you were not put in office to act on your emotions or personal beliefs. And if it is the issue of money, you’re just going to have to figure out other ways to get your hands on it. Every one of you serves at the pleasure of the people of the state of Colorado. I have heard no public outcry for this bill, SB 109 — or the bill coming up behind it whatever its designation, only the concerns of the CDPHE and some very small thinkers who are either intimidated, or outraged by this amendment and the use of it.
Please, think it through, don’t just let this go through without looking for better solutions. This is not a solution. It is wrong. Placing the burden for the imagined fears of some on the backs of the infirmed is cowardly, irresponsible, and unAmerican.
Thank You. |
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