“Sick people all across our state have waited for a long time for this option to be made available to them,” said Jamie Grantham, Communications Director for Mississippians for Compassionate Care. “The Board of Health is telling them to keep waiting, but with the medical research that’s been published concerning medical marijuana as well as countless patient testimonials across the country in the 34 other states that have medical marijuana programs, there’s no reason these patients in Mississippi should suffer any longer. They deserve better.”
The response from a group of physicians says the resolution is “filled with misinformation and outdated arguments.”
“As you know, the initiative does not require physicians to treat patients with medical marijuana, the response says. “The initiative, that was signed by more than 105,000 Mississippians, simply gives doctors in our state the opportunity to certify its use from regulated treatment centers. Your resolution offers no compelling reason why the ten members of the Board should try to stop the more than 5,700 physicians in our state from using our experiences, training, and research to consider treating our patients with medical marijuana.
“While medical marijuana is certainly not a cure-all, Mississippians with debilitating medical conditions deserve to have this option available to them. The experiences in 34 other states show that it can be effective, and we believe the benefits of medical marijuana make it a viable treatment option for many in our state who are suffering.”
The physicians signing the letter then provide a point-by-point response to the issues raised by the Board.