Title:
Bad bill passes committee in Michigan
Message:
A bill that would remove glaucoma from the list of qualifying conditions in Michigan cleared a key legislative committee Tuesday. The bill, SB 977, was approved by the Michigan Senate Judiciary Committee and is sponsored by the chairman of that committee, Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge).
Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes increased fluid pressure within the eye and can lead to blindness. Placebo-controlled studies have indicated that marijuana is able to lower intra-ocular pressure in some glaucoma patients as much as 27%.
Jones’ effort to strip glaucoma from Michigan’s voter-approved law is based on testimony that some patients who use marijuana may discontinue use of other medicines like eyedrops. Undoubtedly, patients using medical marijuana should not discontinue other therapies without consulting their doctors, but these concerns can be addressed in other ways, such as mandating a warning that patients not cease other therapies.
