Washington State petitioned to reschedule cannabis
SEATTLE, WA. MAY 3, 2011 -- A coalition of medical cannabis activists has filed a petition to remove cannabis from the Washington State's list of Schedule I drugs. The move comes in the wake of Governor Gregoire's partial veto of a medical cannabis bill and her comments that she would petition the federal government to reschedule cannabis.
The petition was filed by the American Alliance for Medical Cannabis, CannaCare, and the Cannabis Defense Coalition. Two dozen individuals signed on to the petition also, which was received by the Board of Pharmacy, a stage agency under the purview of the governor.
Petitioners claim that cannabis fails the state's Schedule I test which requires a drug to have "no currently accepted medical use." Our own Department of Health, operating under the purview of the governor, have ruled that several conditions are benefited by the medical use of cannabis. Indeed the governor reiterated this in her veto statement:
"I also expanded the list of illnesses thatmedical marijuana can be used for from cancer, HIV, MS, epilepsy, and seizures to also include: Crohn’s disease, Hepatitis C, anorexia, and other conditions approved by the state medical quality assurance commission."
-- Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire
A hearing date for the rescheduling petition is expected within 30 days. The Board of Pharmacy may approve or deny the petition. If denied, petitioners must appeal to the governor, after which they can file suit in superior court. From there, an appeal may work its way up to the supreme court.
Naturopaths included in medical marijuana law
Nurse practitioners and physicians' assistants may also authorize medical cannabis
OLYMPIA, WASH. MARCH 11, 2010 — A bill to expand Washington State's medical marijuana law cleared the state legislature today, and is headed to the governor's desk. SB 5798 allows naturopathic doctors, nurse practitioners, and advanced physicians' assistants to recommend the medical use of cannabis to their patients.
The new law will increase patient access to health care professionals willing to authorize medical cannabis. Because of the conflict between state and federal pot laws, many doctors fear retribution from the federal government and are reluctant to sign medical cannabis paperwork. To comply with the law, many qualifying patients are forced to travel to the city and pay $200 to see a doctor willing to sign an authorization form.
Also included in the bill is a provision that requires medical cannabis authorizations written after June to be printed on "tamper-resistant" paper that will also be required for all prescription forms in the state.
SB 5798 was supported by the Cannabis Defense Coalition, a Seattle-based activist group that tracks medical cannabis prosecutions in the state. The group hired veteran lobbyist Lonnie Johns-Brown to move the bill forward this session. "Cannabis is an effective, safe and natural medicine," said group spokesman Ben Livingston. "Patients with symptoms relieved by medical cannabis deserve the protection of our law, whether they see a regular doctor or a naturopathic physician. This bill will help increase safe access to this therapeutic, plant-based medicine."
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