LETTER: 'The Difference Between The Two Sides Of The Marijuana Industry'

MILFORD, MA—The following was submitted by Cathy Mitchell. Want to get in on the conversation? Email charlene.arsenault@patch.com.

I was curious about the difference between the two sides of the marijuana industry. Recreational is recreational, but what about medical?

There are proven benefits to medical marijuana. Some forms were available via a doctor’s script even before ‘medical marijuana’ was made legal in Massachusetts. With the legalization of ‘medical marijuana,’ the doctor providing what is termed a ‘certificate’ to a qualifying patient does not set the dose. He or she only determines whether medical marijuana is an appropriate treatment for a given condition. “Dosing is up to the patient within the limits of the law.”

Even the website for Sage Cannabis, a medical marijuana cultivator located in Milford, points to the lack of medical supervision. I was surprised and disturbed to see that their ‘frequently asked questions’ section suggests that with edible dosing, the patient should “start low and go slow.” Shouldn’t a prescribed medication, treating a serious ailment, be FDA approved, be dosed and monitored by a physician and dispensed by a pharmacy?

We are told by the medical marijuana businesses in town that patients will turn to recreational marijuana rather than deal with the "higher" costs incurred using medical marijuana. We are told that these same businesses will not be viable without the addition of a recreational component. Such claims reinforce the idea that these companies are ONLY looking out for themselves. So, in the end, isn’t this all about the money for these businesses?

Please vote ‘YES’ on Tuesday to STOP recreational retail shops in Milford

Cathy Mitchell, Milford