Missouri state Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake Saint Louis, wants to prevent the sale of many forms of edible medical marijuana. While his bill is well-intentioned, it ultimately causes more harm than good. The bill robs patients of their right to choose what method of consumption works best for them, and it also fails to adequately protect children from cannabis misuse.

What works for one patient might not work for another. That’s why patients need options when it comes to medication. Medical marijuana is no different. Patients in the 33 states where medical marijuana is legal turn to edibles because they are a healthier and less harsh consumption method when compared to smoking cannabis. Onder’s bill would make this choice for patients instead of allowing them to choose for themselves.

If a parent is irresponsible with their prescription medication, children are at risk of ingesting it. While banning edibles may seem like an easy solution, it doesn’t address the reason why children are exposed to medicines meant for adult use. To prevent misuse, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults put away medicine and get rid of unused medicine. These guidelines will prevent medical marijuana from falling into the wrong hands.

Originally Published on March 24, 2019 in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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