As a physician, I am often asked what I think about medical marijuana–especially for cancer patients. After I quit laughing, my usual response is, “I’ve never had a cancer patient ask me for it.”

First of all, marijuana usage is RAMPANT in our society. I’ll bet more of my patients use it rather than not. And if not, it’s close. And I am not joking or even exaggerating!   Maybe they use it for anxiety, or insomnia, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or because their toenails need clipping. Whatever, there are lots of reasons they use to justify it’s usage.

Secondly, my cancer patients rarely have the apparent pain they are supposed to have. I think that is why cancer seems to creep up on us. Apparently most cancers are virtually painless until you get to the final stages where it may metastasize to bone. I have a few cancer patients and I can’t think of a single one who uses pain medications or marijuana.

Finally, why do we even call it medical marijuana? Physicians don’t prescribe it. Pharmacies don’t dispense it. You don’t even need a prescription to purchase it–at least not here in Washington State. And most of the users I know aren’t even sick (as I stated above). So let’s be honest and start calling it entertainment marijuana or something like that.