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Living Donation Discussion and News => Living Donation in the News => Topic started by: Clark on June 13, 2015, 04:02:23 PM
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http://www.thedailychronic.net/2015/44148/medical-cannabis-organ-transplant-act-continues-to-advance-in-california/ (http://www.thedailychronic.net/2015/44148/medical-cannabis-organ-transplant-act-continues-to-advance-in-california/)
Medical Cannabis Organ Transplant Act Continues to Advance in California
By Don Duncan (http://www.thedailychronic.net/author/donduncan/)
Legislation to protect medical cannabis patients from discrimination in the organ transplant process entered the home stretch on Wednesday when the California Senate Health Committee approved the
Medical Cannabis Organ Transplant Act (http://mantis.link/V1tHkJE8).
Introduced (http://www.thedailychronic.net/2015/40830/bill-to-end-organ-transplant-denials-for-medical-marijuana-patients-filed-in-california/) by Assembly Member Marc Levine (D-San Rafael), Assembly Bill 258 must now be approved by the full Senate and signed by the Governor. The bill was approved by the Assembly in April. (http://www.thedailychronic.net/2015/42801/california-assembly-passes-medical-cannabis-organ-transplant-act/) A final vote in the Senate is expected next week.
Patients in California who test positive for cannabis use are routinely denied a place on the organ transplant waiting list – even if they are using legal medical cannabis. This widespread policy at hospitals and transplant centers is based on outdated policies that classify legal medical cannabis use as “drug abuse.” Patients have died after being denied an organ transplant based solely on their use of doctor-recommended medical cannabis, and others are at risk right now.
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