California Medical Association Votes Against Denying Organ Transplants for Medical Cannabis Patients
The California Medical Association (CMA) has voted to approve a resolution urging clinics in the state against removing patients from organ transplant lists based on their use of medical
cannabis. Resolution 116-14 was approved with a unanimous vote, which took place during the CMA House of Delegates’ annual meeting this weekend in San Diego.
The resolution opposes “utilization of marijuana use and positive cannabis toxicology tests as a contraindication for potential organ transplant recipients,” and calls on the use of “evidence-based medical findings to guide any alterations in this CMA policy.”
The approval of the resolution comes as California’s legislature is considering introducing a bill that would prevent transplant clinics from rejecting patients based on their medical cannabis status or use.
“I am very proud of my colleagues at the CMA, who once again endorsed the principle that medical decision for the benefit of patients be based on science and not moralistic prejudices,” says Dr. Larry Bedard, a retired Marin General Hospital emergency physician and CMA delegate of over 30 years.
The resolution was authored by Delegates Jordan Apfeld, Nuriel Moghavem, Trishna Narula, MPH, and Sarah Smith.
– TheJointBlog