State Doctors Group Wants Marijuana Legalized

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) -- California's largest physician group now says it's time to legalize pot.

Proposition 215 gives patients access to medicinal marijuana with a doctor's recommendation. It passed 15 years ago, but some doctors say they're only finding their voice now -- saying that proposition puts them in an awkward position.

The problem is the state law is counter to federal law.

"In California physicians are in this very uncomfortable position of having a federal law which makes it illegal and state law which decriminalizes it," said Dr. Donald Lyman of the CMA.

Dr. Lyman says many physicians don't feel right recommending a drug they don't much about. In the healthcare world -- where doctors give detailed prescriptions in doses, milligrams and pills -- marijuana forces them to practice medicine much differently.

"We go into some shops where they have a lollipop that says this is two doses. Well, I don't know what one dose is, this says it's two doses."

So last Friday trustees for the doctors group called for the legalization of marijuana in hopes the feds make it easier for them to research the drug.

But not all doctors say legalizing the drug is the answer.

"At a time when we're trying to reduce cigarette consumption, this has the prospect of reversing that trend," said lung doctor Peter Murphy. "Marijuana in general is more toxic to the lungs than cigarettes."

The association is calling for regulations on street pot similar to tobacco and alcohol so the mystique over marijuana is over.

"No one has been able to do enough research to know whether this stuff is useful," Lyman said.

The California Police Chief Association is against the CMA's recommendation, saying it doesn't see any positive outcomes from legalizing marijuana.