Rating:

3.0 (3 votes)

TUCSON - The closer we get to the general election, the more Arizona voters will hear about medical marijuana. Local physicians know patients will be asking about it.

"People's ethical values may be pushed a little bit one way or another," Ophthalmologist Dr. Jeff Maltzman said.

If Proposition 203 passes, patients suffering from illnesses like cancer, glaucoma or AIDS will be able to pick up limited amounts of pot at marijuana dispensaries, with a doctors recommendation.

Maltzman says he is not ready to start recommending marijuana to his glaucoma patients.

"We've got much better medications, that have better safety profiles, they only have to be dosed once a day. So at this point, although it does work, it really isn't the best option for treatment of glaucoma," Maltzman said.

Immunology specialist Dr. kevin Carmichael sees patients with AIDS, some who tell him they use marijuana. He says a lack of research on the drug gives him a level of uncertainty.

"In the absence of data it makes me a little nervous about prescribing it or how it's going to be prescribed. So I have some apprehension, at the same time I've had patients who've benefited from using it," Carmichael said.

Some physicians say they are concerned about the health risks of smoking and potential legal issues down the line, so recommending the drug would be a tough call.

"I want to do what I can to help my patients, I don't want to hurt my patients, and in the absence of information, I'm kind of left scratching my head. And that's not a position that physicians like to be in very much," Carmichael said.

There are studies showing medical marijuana can help patients suffering from ailments such as chronic pain. We could not find a local physician in full support of recommending the drug available for this story.