assembly bill 258 Archives

California Governor Signs Bill Prohibiting Medical Cannabis Patients from Being Denied Organ Transplants

July 7, 2015July 6, 2015

California Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law a bill that prohibits medical cannabis patients from being denied organ transplants based solely on their use of the medicine, or their status as a patient. Assembly Bill 258 was approved overwhelmingly in the state’s legislature, 85 to 9.

The new law ensures that “A hospital, physician and surgeon, procurement organization, or other person shall not determine the ultimate recipient of an anatomical gift based solely upon a potential recipient’s status as a qualified patient… or based solely on a positive test for the use of medical marijuana by a potential recipient who is a qualified patient.”

California Legislature Passes Bill Prohibiting Medical Cannabis Patients from Being Denied Organ Transplants

June 25, 2015June 23, 2015

California’s full Legislature has given approval to Assembly Bill 258, a proposal to prohibit medical cannabis patients from being denied organ transplants based solely on their use of the medicine, or their status as a patient. The measure was passed by the Senate 33 to 1, and was approved in April by the House 52 to 8.

Assembly Bill 258 now heads to Governor Jerry Brown who has 30 days to sign it into law, allow it to become law without his signature, or veto it.

California Senate Committee Unanimously Passes Bill to Prohibit Patients from being Denied Organ Transplants

June 18, 2015

California’s Senate Health Committee has unanimously passed a bill that would prohibit medical cannabis patients from being denied organ transplants based on their cannabis use, or their status as a qualified patient. The proposal has already passed the state’s full Assembly with a 52 to 8 vote.

Specifically, Assembly Bill 258 will ensure that “A hospital, physician and surgeon, procurement organization, or other person shall not determine the ultimate recipient of an anatomical gift based solely upon a potential recipient’s status as a qualified patient… or based solely on a positive test for the use of medical marijuana by a potential recipient who is a qualified patient.”

Bill to Prohibit Medical Cannabis Patients from being Denied Organ Transplants Passes California Assembly

May 10, 2015May 1, 2015

With an overwhelming 52 to 8 vote, California’s full Assembly has passed Assembly Bill 258, a proposal to prohibit medical cannabis patients from being denied organ transplants based on their cannabis use, or their status as a qualified patient.

“Today, I am proud to stand with my Assembly colleagues in support of AB 258, a common sense measure that will protect the lives of legal medical cannabis patients,” said Assemblymember Marc Levine (D-San Rafael), the author of the bill, after yesterday’s vote. “With this legislation, California can insure that its residents are provided a fair assessment of their eligibility as an organ transplant recipient.”

Legislation to End Organ Transplant Denials for Medical Cannabis Patients filed in California

February 12, 2015

By Americans for Safe Access

SACRAMENTO, CA — California State Assembly member Marc Levine (D-San Rafael) has introduced Assembly Bill 258, the Medical Cannabis Organ Transplant Act, a bill aimed at preventing medical marijuana patients from being unduly denied organ transplants.

The Medical Cannabis Organ Transplant Act is sponsored by Americans for Safe Access (ASA), which has long advocated for patients seeking organ transplants, including Norman B. Smith, a medical marijuana patient who died in 2012 after being denied a liver transplant at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.