SY14-4 * MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN NEW YORK STATE: THEATER OF THE ABSURD

Abstract

This summer New York State will be deciding if they want any forms of medical marijuana which are not approved through the usual medication approval process. Most New Yorkers do not want a repeat of the California or Colorado experience, even though the proposed law will result in this. The advisory committee must have representation of the marijuana industry. This bill is widely supported. The same scenario has taken place in many other states. The story of how this happens is really an episode in the theater of the Absurd.This presentation will look at the various characters on stage. The well funded Drug Policy Alliance refers to most scientific information on marijuana as a myth. The marijuana industry from other states is pouring money into New York. The newsmedia is fueling the medical marijuana movement, but there are other actors on the stage. Some have few or no lines such as our federal government, state governor's office and many state medical organizations. Addiction physicians are confused, many noninvolved and others providing mixed messages. The absurd may become law. We as physicians need to better understand these political processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Alcohol & Alcoholism is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)