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Medical Marijuana Working Group Hears Concerns From Two Doctors

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Two doctors talking Wednesday to Oklahoma’s Medical Marijuana Working Group are not in favor of how the state’s program is set to be implemented.

Anesthesiologist Mike Mullins said physicians’ role will be limited with the federal government classifying marijuana as a Schedule I drug.

"Therefore, we cannot discuss anything to do with therapies with patients or risks versus benefits with patients at all," Mullins said. "Our role is, ‘Yes, you would like a medical marijuana license? Hm. Well, I hope it benefits you.’ And we sign the application and away you go."

Attorneys consulted by physicians trade publications, however, have advised discussing use is permitted, and the Western Journal of Medicine suggested standard of care guidelines in 2001.

Former state lawmaker and emergency physician Doug Cox said he supports non-psychoactive derivatives the legislature approved in 2015 like CBD oil or synthetic THC but sees marijuana itself as solely an addictive drug.

"I would bet dollar to a dime that after 10 years — give it 10 years — that you will be spending more state tax dollars addressing the problems associated with any legal form of mood-altering marijuana than you will be taking in on tax dollars from that same substance," C0x said.

In saying it would do more harm than good, Cox compared marijuana to cigarettes and prescription painkillers.

"Opioid manufacturers said, ‘Oh, don’t worry. This new form — these oxycodones, these hydrocodones — they’re not as addictive. They’re not that harmful.’ And now, then, the United States has more citizens dying from opioid addiction problems than they do car wrecks," Cox said.

Cox said he is disappointed the State Board of Health and Gov. Mary Fallin replaced stringent medical marijuana rules approved last month.

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.