Medical marijuana poses unregulated risk to state’s kids
Jim Galloway praises State Rep. Allen Peake for his efforts to bring medical marijuana, in the form of CBD oil, to Georgians (“Peake describes a semi-secret life,” Metro, April 1). Unfortunately, the legislation that Peake got passed over the past three legislative sessions puts Georgia’s children at risk. Physicians do not prescribe CBD oil, they merely certify that a patient meets one of the conditions that allow possession of CBD oil. The physician plays no role in determining dosage or monitoring safety, effectiveness or side effects. Parents who receive the product from Peake have no assurance the product contains the amount of CBD oil listed or if there are any added ingredients or contaminants. The first bill Peake got passed allowed children with severe epilepsy to receive CBD oil. Fortunately, this represented a small number of children who could be experimented on with an unknown, uncontrolled product. Subsequent bills added autism, PTSD and intractable pain to the list of certifying conditions, meaning that tens of thousands of children in Georgia may now be involved in these unregulated experiments. We don’t allow drug manufacturers to experiment on children without strict monitoring for safety and effectiveness. Why should medical marijuana be treated any differently?
DR. ROBERT WISKIND, ATLANTA
With the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination April 4, it’s time for Georgia to issue an official apology for its conduct under Gov. Lester Maddox during the funeral procession from Ebenezer Baptist Church to the state Capitol. When the massive procession arrived at the Capitol, with the whole world watching on TV, Gov. Maddox ordered the state patrol to ring the Capitol and turn their backs as the mourners passed. He refused to lower the flag, and stated from the Capitol steps that he and the state would never honor a known communist. Gov. Deal, an apology would be a fitting tribute as your reign comes to an end.
DON G. WHITE, ATLANTA
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