American Psychiatric Association Assembly Backs Medical Marijuana Patient Protection
November 7, 2007
Unanimous Vote Signals Growing Acceptance of Medical Marijuana
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a unanimous vote, the Assembly of the American Psychiatric Association has approved a strongly worded statement supporting legal protection for patients using medical marijuana with their doctor’s recommendation.
The APA action paper, which must be approved by the APA Board of Trustees when it meets in December, notes that 12 states now have medical marijuana laws, and states, “The threat of arrest by federal agents, however, still exists. Seriously ill patients living in these states with medical marijuana recommendations from their doctors should not be subjected to the threat of punitive federal prosecution for merely attempting to alleviate the chronic pain, side effects, or symptoms associated with their conditions or resulting from their overall treatment regimens. … [We] support protection for patients and physicians participating in state approved medical marijuana programs.”
This and a second action paper calling on the government to facilitate “well-designed clinical research into the medical utility of marijuana” were adopted Saturday with no dissenting votes by the APA Assembly, which represents the group’s 74 district branches and 16 allied professional organizations.
“This vote is a landmark, and a proud day for our profession.” said Abraham L. Halpern, M.D., professor emeritus of psychiatry at New York Medical College and past president of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. “As physicians, we cannot abide our patients being subject to arrest and jail for using a physician-recommended treatment that clearly relieves suffering for many who are not helped by conventional treatments.”
“This unanimous vote shows the growing acceptance of medical marijuana by organized medicine,” said Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. “Members of Congress who have opposed efforts to protect patients from federal prosecution have tried to portray medical marijuana as a fringe issue. But the APA Assembly vote, along with other recent endorsements including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, shows that it’s those who want to arrest the sick and suffering who are on the fringe.”
With 40,000 members and 16 allied organizations (including the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Association for Social Psychiatry, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, and the American Association of Emergency Psychiatrists), the American Psychiatric Association is the main professional organization for psychiatrists in the United States.
With more than 23,000 members and 100,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. For more information, please visit www.MarijuanaPolicy.org.
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Marijuana Policy Project,
POB 77492
Capitol Hill, Washington, DC 20013
United States
Posted by News LI Editor · Filed Under Health
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2 Responses to “American Psychiatric Association Assembly Backs Medical Marijuana Patient Protection”
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In 1997, the APA said “more research” was needed to substantiate claims about marijuana as medicine. Looks like the Assembly now has the research it needs. Until the Board of Trustees authorizes the statement as official APA doctrine then I’ll keep holding my breath. Perhaps the American Medical Association (AMA) will be the next to change its views. Check out www.medicalmarijuanaprocon.org for the medical marijuana views of the APA and AMA and about 550 other places. Very cool site.
- Posted by: Ted Selkas
i cant go a day without it
its on my mind 24/7
I KNOW THAT I
MUST BE HIGH
S0 THAT I CAN FUNCTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Posted by: deniese