White House drug czar to states considering medical marijuana: Look at problems in California

Posted on Nov 02, 2009 by charlotteeby.

DES MOINES – The White House’s drug czar said Monday that Iowa officials should look at the problems California has seen after allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes as they consider the idea here.

Gil Kerlikowske, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, specifically cited problems regulating the clinics in the Los Angeles area that dispense medical marijuana.

Kerlikowske recounted going to Venice Beach and seeing people holding signs advertising marijuana and ads in newspapers.

He also pointed to reports of robberies and assaults that have occurred in and around medical marijuana dispensaries in the Los Angeles area.

“I would say that the recommendation for any state that’s considering moving to medical marijuana is to look very closely at what’s been occurring in California,” Kerlikowske said.

Kerlikowske, the former police chief in Seattle, reported better results for the medical marijuana law in Washington State.

“It was not as significant a problem for law enforcement as it was in, as it is in, Los Angeles,” Kerlikowske said.

Iowa’s pharmacy board is holding hearings around the state to collect input on the medical use of marijuana and could decide to make a recommendation to state lawmakers.

Kerlikowske said his office had in the past has given its opinions to states opposing medical marijuana, but he stopped short of making such a recommendation Monday.

Kerlikowske was in Iowa for a roundtable and series of events with Iowa treatment providers and law enforcement officials as he seeks input for a national drug control strategy due out next year.

One of the participants included Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Kevin Pals, who doesn’t think people should be allowed to smoke marijuana for medical conditions.

“How are you going to enforce that? You know, you’re going to see people out in public smoking a joint. I’m not sure we’re ready for that or that it’s needed,” Pals said.

Kerlikowske also listened to Iowa’s experience in battling drug abuse, especially problems with methamphetamine. A report issued Monday found that methamphetamine activity in Iowa, after declining for five years, is now on the rise.

The Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy said there have been small increases in the number of meth-related treatment admissions, meth labs and manufacturing meth in the presence of a minor cases. Although the numbers are up, they are still well below their levels five years ago.

Kerlikowske detailed some of the strategies that have helped reduce the illegal manufacturing of meth in other parts of the country.

One state that has had success is Oregon, where pseudoephedrine is available only by prescription. The drug, found in cold and allergy medications, is a key ingredient in making meth.

“Not only are their laboratories significantly reduced, but also the number of people coming into the jail system with a problem for methamphetamine is significantly down compared to other places,” Kerlikowske said of Oregon’s regulation.

Gary Kendell, director of Iowa’s Office of Drug Control Policy, said the state has seen a resurgence of methamphetamine labs, although not to the extent that other states have.

Kendell said an electronic tracking system for pseudoephedrine that should be up and running next year should be given a chance to work.

“We think that that’s going to provide us with a good tool to reduce access of these cooks to the pseudoephedrine products,” Kendell said.