Pubdate: Fri, 24 May 2013
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Copyright: 2013 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.philly.com/inquirer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340
Author: Jan Hefler

MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS NO BAR TO TRANSPLANTS IN BILL

The New Jersey Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a bill that would 
prevent medical-marijuana patients from being disqualified for 
receiving organ transplants because they are using a drug that 
historically was deemed illegal.

The bill would make sure hospitals and doctors don't "exclude people 
who are otherwise eligible for organ transplants" just because they 
use medical marijuana, said Assemblyman Peter J. Barnes (D., 
Middlesex), a prime sponsor.

New Jersey legalized medical marijuana three years ago and restricts 
the drug's use to people suffering from debilitating illnesses, 
including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and other conditions. More than 
900 patients are registered statewide.

The bill, cosponsored by Annette Quijano (D., Union) and Reed 
Gusciora (D., Mercer and Hunterdon), passed Monday on a 67-9 vote 
with two abstentions.

A companion bill in the state Senate has been reported out of the 
Health Committee and is headed to the floor for a vote. "Now that 
this program is See page 23

 From page B1 beginning to operate, it's important that we protect 
patients desperately in need" of transplants, Barnes said. "This will 
help ensure that the law cannot be misconstrued to hold these 
patients liable" for using a drug that is legal in only about 
one-third of the states.

The federal government still considers the drug illegal but has 
notified the states that have medical marijuana programs that it will 
not prosecute when the drug is dispensed only to the sick.

Barnes said he read about a California medical marijuana patient who 
was denied a liver transplant due to his use of the drug and Barnes 
wanted to ensure that doesn't happen in New Jersey.

The bill says that registered patients' use of marijuana is the same 
as using other prescribed medications and that the marijuana should 
not be considered an illicit substance.

"The original law was enacted to ease the suffering for patients that 
have not found relief through traditional means," Gusciora said. 
"This will help ensure that they receive the treatment they need and 
are not penalized."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom