vol1 - Page 261
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under medical supervisiono #_-q/ Hepler does not elaborate or
_ offer even one substantive example in support of his statements
The AAO Report asserts marijuana is munsafea for
reasons which are, quite simply, trivial:
The dose of marijuana necessary to produce a
i_. clinically relevant effect o.. appears to
-
produce an unacceptable level of undesirable
side effects such as I) euphorias 2) systemic
hypoteneion_ 3) and/or dry eye and con _
junctival hyperemia [red eyes_ in the
majority of glaucoma patients in_gm the
......._ dug has been carefully studiedo _-_
The AAO apparently feels the dread _euphoria n produced
by marijuana smoking (commonly defined as a feeling of well
...... _ being) is more threatening to patient welfare than death due to
Diamox induced k_dney failures Phospholine Iodide induced
respiratory paralysis_ or Timoptic induced cardiac failure; that
..... _, systemic hypotension caused by improper methods o_ marijuana
inhalation (a problem Dr. Merritt notes is easily solved) is of
greater concern than the drug-induce@ systemic hypotension
respiratory and cardiac arrest caused by timolol; that the red
<.:./ g
bloodshot eyes caused by marijuana inhalation5_/ are of greater
concern to patients than the debilitating myopia and cataracts
which are caused by miotic agents.
8_/ Direct Testimony of Robert S. _epler p. 4. In 1978,
Hepler took a very different position, mThe safety risk
(observed side effects) of using marijuana to treat glaucoma
appears to be no greater than risks associated with the more
......_ conventional medications, and is insignificant when compared
with the certain results of allowing IOP to escalate uncon-
trolled® n Affidavit of Robert Randall_ Exhibit 2B, Affidavit of
Dr. Robert Heplert _ 29(e).
__i/ Hepler Exhibit 2, AAO Reportpo [3.
___/ Cross_Examination of Dr. John Merritt, Tr. 10-128.
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