January 31 – Spotlight PA, a non-profit investigative organization, released an expansive expose recently on numbers they uncovered from medical marijuana certifications in Pennsylvania.
The state apparently attempted to keep them from getting the numbers, but the organization uncovered it.
The group analyzed more than one million medical marijuana certifications in the state and almost 60 percent of them have been issued for anxiety.
Attorney Clint Barkdoll said, “As Spotlight is pointing out, that was not originally one of the enumerated purposes in the medical marijuana law.”
In fact, Governor Tom Wolf added anxiety administratively – it was not done through the general assembly.
Barkdoll said, “When you look at the statistics, the medical marijuana cards being issued are proliferating tremendously year over year. They’re almost doubling every year. They’re also pointing out the ease of getting these cards now through these virtual, telehealth prescription services. There’s very little scrutiny given to those. People call up, they pay the fee, they say they have anxiety, they get the medical marijuana card. In light of this, might the general assembly get re-engaged on this or try to do anything about it?”
Michele Jansen of NewsTalk 103.7FM said, “How our last governor was allowed to virtually make medical decisions through executive order, of course it also happened with affirming only treatment of so-called trans kids, which we’re manufacturing now in great numbers. You can’t do anything else, but keep affirming them. This was such an ideological governor and how dare he make executive orders on medical conditions? It’s the height of irresponsibility and then the so-called experts that seem to support him. People like the American School Counselors Association. They’re a private, activist group. They’re not medical professionals in my opinion at all, but to allow people like this to make that decision. Anxiety is not something that marijuana treats very well. In fact, marijuana causes anxiety and the fact that that’s the number one reason people are getting marijuana cards? We are in so much trouble in this state and recreational marijuana is the biggest mistake. I think Maryland is going to come regret making that legal and of course, they’re just pushing us in the same direction. I’m tired of activist, radical, elected officials and bureaucrats making medical decisions for people. This is just so irresponsible. I’m now at a loss for words.”
Medical marijuana was originally adopted in Pennsylvania to help with cancer treatments, chronic pain and glaucoma.
Barkdoll said, “There was an argument that those kind of things, there could have been helpful side effects, benefits of using medical marijuana, but the governor through the Department of Health essentially created a workaround when they administratively said well let’s add anxiety. As the Spotlight data is proving, that has just amplified the number of people getting these cards and they’re for reasons far removed from the original intent of the law.”
Jansen noted, “Those original reasons had medical science behind them. Anxiety does not. There’s even proof that it does not help and causes only more, but hey. As long as our activists are happy. As long as people are making money.”
Barkdoll said, “It could be on the agenda because you have some Republican Senators now open to recreational marijuana. Assuming the Democrats take control of the House next week, the stars could be lined up for something like this to pass.”
Pat Ryan of NewsTalk 103.7FM quipped, “You’ve got to get everybody numb and dumb.”
