Buzzby

[This is a press release from the Marijuana Policy Project.]

American Psychiatric Association Assembly Backs Medical Marijuana Patient Protection

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.

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chadwick

i was just reading that same article today, it gave me some hope that soon enough some one will be able to over ride the DEA and change marijuana's drug status so that they could atleast do some research on its medical propertys, and then the federal government could have the same point of view on cannabis as the 12 states who have legalized it so far

Vicki

At least it's some good news. Too bad it's taking tiny baby steps to get where we need to be.

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Broliette

This is incredible. I think I even got a tingle.

Now even though it still needs to be "approved by the APA Board of Trustees" it is still awesome to see it was unanimously done.

I wonder, being backed by the APA, does that squash the some of the ideas that cannabis might cause schizophrenia or psychosis?

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Vicki

That's a very good question. I was thinking the exact same thing when I read this.

dedbr

I wonder what the FDA's reaction is going to be..........


Some Where In Ded Land.......

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Viper420

They'll probably ignore it with some prompting from the White House.

Noeone

Sit on their asses like always when it comes to deciding about marijuana, because
they bow to the DEA's power and influence.

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Buzzby

This 21st Century Reefer Madness is a local phenomenon in the UK and Australia. The correlation isn't very high and there has been no increase in the rates of schizophrenia in places with many marijuana users compared to places where there are hardly any. The rationale behind it and the research cited is highly questionable. Doctors in other countries haven't bought into it.

Kushable

I'm sure chimpy (bush) will have nothing to say aout it.