cannabisnews.com: Panel Considers Pot Usage Based on Symptoms 





Panel Considers Pot Usage Based on Symptoms 
Posted by FoM on March 02, 2000 at 11:05:31 PT
By Carol M. Ostrom, Seattle Times Staff Reporter 
Source: Seattle Times
A panel of the state Medical Quality Assurance Commission will consider whether to make anyone suffering certain debilitating symptoms eligible to legally use marijuana for medical purposes. The commission has already added two diseases to the original list of those for which physicians can authorize patients to possess marijuana under a law passed by voters in 1998. 
Now, Dr. Rob Killian is petitioning the board to add a list of symptoms rather than specific diseases. Otherwise, he says, the board will be inundated with requests to add one disease after another. In recent months, the board added Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammation of the bowels, and hepatitis C to the list. At the same time, Bonnie King, executive director of the commission, noted that the board added a condition: Marijuana may be recommended only when traditional approaches have been found ineffective. The list suggested by Killian, a doctor who sponsored Initiative 692, which created the medical-marijuana law, includes: Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, anorexia, appetite loss and cramping. Neurological symptoms such as seizures, muscle spasms and spasticity. Mood disorders, including insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorder. A public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. April 19 at the Seattle Airport Hilton, 17620 Pacific Highway S., SeaTac. Written testimony must be submitted by March 31. It should go to Bonnie King, executive director, Medical Quality Assurance Commission, Department of Health, 1300 S.E. Quince St., P.O. Box 47866, Olympia, WA 98504-7866. For more information, call 360-236-4789. A final decision is expected June 2. Published: Thursday, March 2, 2000Copyright © 2000 The Seattle Times Company Related Articles & Web Sites:Washington Citizens For Medical Rights http://www.eventure.com/i692/ MMJ Law: 'Playing It By Ear' In Washington Statehttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3801.shtmlPolice To Draft Policy For Marijuana Growers http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3539.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on March 02, 2000 at 12:54:38 PT
But no one is safe from the Federal Beast
Not until at least 7 more States approve MMJ. That will equal roughly 40% of the country. With that many of the country moving in that direction, the Feds will either declare all out war (and no, they haven't, not yet) or back off. And they know that if they are seen backing down just once, they've lost the War; hence their harassing tactics at attempting to intimidate doctors, caregivers and patients. They are fighting a rearguard operation, and the brightest of them know it. Problem is, the rearguard always takes the highest casualties. 
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