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Indybay Feature

Support AB 258 in California: Medical Cannabis Organ Transplant Act

by Americans for Safe Access
Hundreds of medical cannabis patients and advocates will be visiting the state Capitol this afternoon to talk with lawmakers about medical cannabis legislation. One of the most important bills on the table is AB 258, the Medical Cannabis Organ Transplant Act. This bill will prevent discrimination against medical cannabis patients who need organ transplants. It is a high priority for ASA, because medical cannabis patients have already died after being dropped from the organ transplant waiting list. Others are in danger right now.

Take a minute right now to send an email to your California State Senator asking them to support AB 258.

Don’t wait. The Senate could vote on the bill any time this week.
california-cannabis-leaf.jpg
Tell your California State Senator to vote yes on AB 258.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/_asa_california_weekly_roundup_june_15_2015_action_alert

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Dear legislator,

I am writing to urge you to vote yes on AB 258 (Levine), the Medical Cannabis Organ Transplant Act. The bill will reduce unnecessary suffering and preventable death. AB 258 prohibits anyone in the decision-making process from blocking an organ transplant based on the potential recipient’s legal medical cannabis use, unless a doctor has determined that medical cannabis use is clinically significant to the transplant process.

Patients who test positive for cannabis use are routinely denied a place on the organ transplant waiting list – even if they are using legal doctor-recommended medical cannabis in accordance with California law. This widespread practice at hospitals and transplant centers is based on outdated policies that classify legal medical cannabis use as “drug abuse.” Legal patients have died after being denied an organ transplant based solely on their use of doctor-recommended medical cannabis, and others are at risk right now.

In December, the California Medical Association’s House of Delegates unanimously approved Resolution Number 114-16 opposing blanket restrictions of potential organ transplant donors and recipients based solely on reported or detected cannabis use. Research shows that the active therapeutic constituents of cannabis have beneficial immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects, which may prolong graft survival in transplant patients. There is no association between cannabis use and lower survival rates.

Please support this reasonable and compassion bill.

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Take a minute right now to send an email to your California State Senator asking them to support AB 258.
http://www.safeaccessnow.org/_asa_california_weekly_roundup_june_15_2015_action_alert
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