Latest:
News21

News21

AMERICA'S WEED RUSH

California bill: Doctors can’t discriminate against marijuana patients for organ transplants
Medical 

California bill: Doctors can’t discriminate against marijuana patients for organ transplants

Mike Reilley
California bill: Doctors can’t discriminate against marijuana patients for organ transplants
Yamileth Bolanos received a liver transplant in 1996, but suffered while recuperating for years. In 2000, she tried medical marijuana for the first time and has since become one of the most vocal proponents for a California bill that would prohibit discrimination against medical marijuana patients in need of organ transplants.

By Brittan Jenkins and Martin do Nascimento
@News21

LOS ANGELES – A bill to prohibit discrimination against medical marijuana patients from receiving organ transplants is awaiting final approval from California Gov. Jerry Brown.

Assemblyman Marc Levin, D-San Rafael, introduced Assembly Bill 258, also know as the Medical Cannabis Organ Transplant Act. It would prohibit hospitals and doctors from denying patients organ transplants because they tested positive for medical marijuana.

One exception: If a doctor deems the marijuana use “medically significant,” health officials could still block the transplant.
Six months ago, the California Medical Association voted unanimously to support of medical marijuana patients’ receiving organ transplants. Advocates claim that up to now, patients experienced discrimination in some cases.

Audio: Yamileth Bolanos talks about receiving a liver transplant 19 years ago and how she suffered while recuperating for years.

A liver transplant recipient in 1996, Yamileth Bolanos said she had never used marijuana prior to her surgery. Rather, it was during her recuperation that a friend recommended she try cannabis to treat the myriad conditions that plagued her recovery.
Had she used medical marijuana prior to the operation, she may not have received her transplant. Bolanos now serves as director of the Greater Los Angeles Collective Alliance and is one of the bill’s most vocal advocates.

While the bill would protect potential recipients of organs from discrimination, it does not mention potential organ donors who use medical marijuana.

California NORML estimates the state has up to 1,125,000 current medical marijuana patients even though the California Department of Public Health Medical Marijuana Program has issued only 80,370 medical marijuana cards since fiscal 2005. Since the program isn’t mandatory, patients apply for cards voluntarily.

The bill passed 33-1, and Americans for Safe Access, a medical marijuana advocacy group, sponsored the bill.

Follow and the News 21 California Team on Twitter: Tom Blanton @thomashblanton, Brittan Jenkins @brittanjenkins, Martin do Nascimento @mhdonascimento. Brittan Jenkins is an Ethics and Excellence Fellow from the University of Oklahoma; Thomas Blanton is a Reynolds Fellow from Arizona State University; and Martin do Nascimento is a graduate student fellow from the University of Texas at Austin.