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veggie

Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 17,504
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What's the standard dosage for pot? [WA]
#7441904 - 09/22/07 09:32 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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What's the standard dosage for pot? September 23, 2007 - LA Times
Washington state allows a 60-day supply of medical marijuana. Now the Legislature wants to know how much that is. Any ideas?
SEATTLE -- Patients using marijuana for ailments ranging from chronic back pain to cancer are allowed by Washington state law to possess a two-month supply of the drug. But medical marijuana doesn't come with a standard dose or even a standard method of taking the drug.
The 1998 law has never spelled out how much usable pot nor how many plants make up a 60-day supply.
Now the Legislature has demanded an answer to the question by July, and the state is holding hearings to ask experts and citizens for their opinions on how to determine a two-month supply.
"There is so much you will have to take into account," says Joanna McKee, founder of Seattle's Green Cross Patient Co-op. "What about people who eat it? How different is the amount they need from people who smoke it?"
McKee was one of many who spoke at a state health department public meeting this month in Seattle. More than 100 people attended, and about 45 people spoke. Another meeting in Spokane drew similar numbers.
Most people at the meetings were clearly medical marijuana advocates. So are most who have posted comments on a Washington Department of Health website, but a few have written to express dismay at any use of marijuana. "It is a waste of our time and resources to address this non-issue," reads one such comment.
But the issue is crucial for patients who use medical marijuana.
"What has ended up happening is that in each county, law enforcement effectively decides what constitutes a 60-day supply," says attorney Alison Holcomb, Marijuana Education Project director for the state ACLU. "And in some counties, that amount has been set at zero."
Of the 12 states that protect medical marijuana patients from state prosecution, Washington is the only one without clear guidelines on the amount a patient or designated caregiver is allowed to possess.
Those amounts are different in almost every other state. Oregon allows the largest supply -- 24 ounces or six mature plants -- and several states only allow patients to have one ounce of usable marijuana on hand. In California, state law sets a limit of 8 ounces or six mature plants, but cities and counties are free to establish higher guidelines.
Dr. Gregory T. Carter, a professor of rehabilitative medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine who studies the effects of marijuana in treating patients with ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, says that all of these codified limits may be too low.
"There are so many variables here. Even if you just look at smokers, you have to look not only at the quality of the pot, but also at the efficiency of the smoker," he says. "Some people are better smokers than others."
Carter and several colleagues studied the dose amounts used on a federal study of medical marijuana, which has been in progress for more than 30 years. Based on this, he says that a 60-day supply works out to nearly 4 1/2 pounds per patient -- far more than the amount allowed by any state.
And, he says, "that's probably a pretty conservative estimate."
Tom McBride, executive secretary of the Washington Assn. of Prosecuting Attorneys, welcomes the change in the law. "It doesn't make sense for a judge or prosecutor to have to determine how much a sick person needs -- that's a medical decision, and I've always felt it should be made by a doctor."
McBride says he isn't worried about a high limit shielding recreational pot dealers.
"Under Washington law," he says, "group growing and distribution isn't legal, and codifying a 60-day supply won't change that."
Many advocates hope the state will ultimately allow patient co-ops to grow and distribute medical pot, as is the case in some parts of California. But no one expects that to happen here any time soon.
Bruce Mirken is director of communications at the Marijuana Policy Project, a national nonprofit group that works for both medical and recreational marijuana policy reform. He worries that Washington's new definition will be set too low, but at the same time emphasizes that safe access remains the larger issue for all medical marijuana patients.
"It's going to remain a problem, as long as the federal government remains hostile to medical marijuana," he says.
That worry was reflected in many of the comments offered at the Seattle meeting.
Caroline Welch, 47, was one of the first to tell her story. Diagnosed with stage-three ovarian cancer earlier this summer, Welch attributes much of her ability to withstand her treatment to medical marijuana.
"There were people producing it for me before I knew I'd even need it," she says. "It would have taken me till next summer to cultivate the plants, get the knowledge base. There is no way that I could have done it."
McKee, of the Seattle patient co-op, said she had worked with thousands of medical marijuana patients over the years. "I have never seen anyone with a 60-day supply. I have seen people with a few ounces, a few plants," she said.
Public comments on the issue will be accepted until the end of the year, and in early 2008, the department of health will publish a proposed rule. The final rule must be in place by July, which is also the deadline for the health department to report back to the Legislature on the issue of safe access to medical marijuana.
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Diploid
Cuban



Registered: 01/09/03
Posts: 19,274
Loc: Rabbit Hole
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Re: What's the standard dosage for pot? [WA] [Re: veggie]
#7441944 - 09/22/07 09:47 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Eh, everyone knows the standard dose is: one bowl.
-------------------- Republican Values: 1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you. 2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child. 3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer. 4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.
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wolfiexiii
Oddity


Registered: 06/24/07
Posts: 149
Last seen: 12 years, 7 days
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Re: What's the standard dosage for pot? [WA] [Re: Diploid]
#7441977 - 09/22/07 10:00 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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if Im sick and need medical mj, then I'm not smoking it... I'm going to eat it. so whats the standard dose to eat eh?
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MushroomTrip
Dr. Teasy Thighs



Registered: 12/02/05
Posts: 14,794
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Re: What's the standard dosage for pot? [WA] [Re: wolfiexiii]
#7441988 - 09/22/07 10:04 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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One bite
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   All this time I've loved you And never known your face All this time I've missed you And searched this human race Here is true peace Here my heart knows calm Safe in your soul Bathed in your sighs
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AlCapwn
ID Reset, take that subpoena


Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 2,957
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Re: What's the standard dosage for pot? [WA] [Re: MushroomTrip]
#7442620 - 09/23/07 02:15 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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One ton.
-------------------- Huuuuurrrrrr!
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Eraserhead
Lost Soul



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Re: What's the standard dosage for pot? [WA] [Re: AlCapwn]
#7442916 - 09/23/07 04:59 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
Carter and several colleagues studied the dose amounts used on a federal study of medical marijuana, which has been in progress for more than 30 years. Based on this, he says that a 60-day supply works out to nearly 4 1/2 pounds per patient -- far more than the amount allowed by any state.
For once, the study of government approved weed actually does some good.
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Visionary Tools



Registered: 06/23/07
Posts: 7,953
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Re: What's the standard dosage for pot? [WA] [Re: Eraserhead]
#7442998 - 09/23/07 06:03 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
but a few have written to express dismay at any use of marijuana. "It is a waste of our time and resources to address this non-issue," reads one such comment.
That's not an anti pot statement, is it? It should be a non issue, like someone making themselves mint and chamomile tea for an upset stomach. The dose is, whatever works!
Plants don't have standardised doses. The strain and potency has very varied effects.
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simplystoned
Tree Wizard




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Re: What's the standard dosage for pot? [WA] [Re: Visionary Tools]
#7443252 - 09/23/07 08:42 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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I would say a two months supply of ultra fantastic nug for me would be about 3.5 ozs. Hard to say though, if I've got it I'll smoke it.
I suffer from RLS on occasion so I gotta smoke now all the time.
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"Your pain is the breaking of the shell which encloses your understanding. It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self. Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility: For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen, And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears." - Kahlil Gibran
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aspore
myconaut



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Re: What's the standard dosage for pot? [WA] [Re: simplystoned]
#7443272 - 09/23/07 08:47 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Yeah, RLS, me too.
IF that will get me a 215, so be it...
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c l i c k m e
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WhiskeyClone
Not here


Registered: 06/25/01
Posts: 16,509
Loc: Longitudinal Center of Canada ...
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Re: What's the standard dosage for pot? [WA] [Re: veggie]
#7443416 - 09/23/07 09:26 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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If I had a chronic painful illness and wanted to be somewhat stoned all day, I'd want about 5 fat bowls a day. I figure that's about an oz over 2 months.
-------------------- Welcome evermore to gods and men is the self-helping man. For him all doors are flung wide: him all tongues greet, all honors crown, all eyes follow with desire. Our love goes out to him and embraces him, because he did not need it. ~ R.W. Emerson, "Self-Reliance"
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Alion



Registered: 08/14/07
Posts: 462
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Re: What's the standard dosage for pot? [WA] [Re: WhiskeyClone]
#7443948 - 09/23/07 12:21 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
WhiskeyClone said: If I had a chronic painful illness and wanted to be somewhat stoned all day, I'd want about 5 fat bowls a day. I figure that's about an oz over 2 months.
sounds like the correct dosage.
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TODAY
Battletoad


Registered: 09/25/03
Posts: 10,218
Loc: Metropolis City, USA
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Re: What's the standard dosage for pot? [WA] [Re: Alion]
#7444351 - 09/23/07 02:53 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Since when is a 60 day supply of 4.5 pounds a 'conservative' estimate? That's 1.2oz per day. Has ANYBODY consistently been able to smoke 1.2oz per day?
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ca'rouse (k-rouz) intr.v. To engage in boisterous, drunken merrymaking.
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StrandedVoyager
The People's Champ




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Re: What's the standard dosage for pot? [WA] [Re: TODAY]
#7444416 - 09/23/07 03:15 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
TODAY said: Since when is a 60 day supply of 4.5 pounds a 'conservative' estimate? That's 1.2oz per day. Has ANYBODY consistently been able to smoke 1.2oz per day?
No... but I'd like to try...
-------------------- Hi
My god... it's full of stars...
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WhiskeyClone
Not here


Registered: 06/25/01
Posts: 16,509
Loc: Longitudinal Center of Canada ...
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Re: What's the standard dosage for pot? [WA] [Re: TODAY]
#7444962 - 09/23/07 05:47 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
TODAY said: Since when is a 60 day supply of 4.5 pounds a 'conservative' estimate? That's 1.2oz per day. Has ANYBODY consistently been able to smoke 1.2oz per day?
-------------------- Welcome evermore to gods and men is the self-helping man. For him all doors are flung wide: him all tongues greet, all honors crown, all eyes follow with desire. Our love goes out to him and embraces him, because he did not need it. ~ R.W. Emerson, "Self-Reliance"
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2859558484
Growery is Better



Registered: 01/10/06
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Re: What's the standard dosage for pot? [WA] [Re: WhiskeyClone]
#7445303 - 09/23/07 07:15 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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haha, 4.5 lbs would last me more than a year...
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emit
Trippy 70'sSci-Fi Movie




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Re: What's the standard dosage for pot? [WA] [Re: WhiskeyClone]
#7445318 - 09/23/07 07:17 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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i smoked 2oz and more per day for a few weeks... that was insane lol
-------------------- yes...
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TODAY
Battletoad


Registered: 09/25/03
Posts: 10,218
Loc: Metropolis City, USA
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Re: What's the standard dosage for pot? [WA] [Re: emit]
#7446338 - 09/24/07 12:18 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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I stand corrected 
I was smoking a gram a day and thought that was out of control
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ca'rouse (k-rouz) intr.v. To engage in boisterous, drunken merrymaking.
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emit
Trippy 70'sSci-Fi Movie




Registered: 06/20/07
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Re: What's the standard dosage for pot? [WA] [Re: TODAY]
#7446368 - 09/24/07 12:40 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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that was so much weed tho ..and i've quit now
-------------------- yes...
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SneezingPenis
ACHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!111!

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Re: What's the standard dosage for pot? [WA] [Re: emit]
#7448454 - 09/24/07 05:35 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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if it was some killer nug, I would say that a quarter a week would be enough. so.... 6 1/2 ozs for a half year supply.
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