Is medical marijuana legal in California?
Yes. On November 5, 1996, California passed Proposition 215, and Section 11362.5 was codified and added to the Health & Safety Code. It is also known as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. The purposes of the Act include, in part: "(A) To ensure that seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes where the medical use is deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician who has determined that the person's health would benefit from the use of marijuana in the treatment of cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine, or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief; and (B) To ensure that patients and their primary caregivers who obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes upon the recommendation of a physician are not subject to criminal prosecution or sanction."
May physicians legally recommend marijuana therapy to a patient?
Yes. On September 7, 2000, U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled in Conant v. McCaffrey that federal authorities may not sanction doctors who recommend marijuana to patients. www.NORML.org for more information.
Why medical marijuana instead of other medications?
For many patients, traditional medications do work well and these patients do not require or desire medical marijuana. However, for a significant number of patients, including patients suffering from AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis and chronic pain among others, traditional medications do not provide symptomatic relief as effectively as medicinal cannabis. These patients should not be branded as criminals or forced to suffer needlessly. Cannabis has been used as a medicine for thousands of years in China, India, and many other parts of the world.
Why not Marinol?
Dronabinol (trade name Marinol) is a legal, synthetic THC alternative to cannabis. Nevertheless, many patients claim they find minimal relief from it, particularly when compared to inhaled marijuana. The active ingredient in Marinol, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is only one of the compounds isolated in marijuana that appears to be medically beneficial to patients. Other compounds such as cannabidiol (CBD), an anti-convulsant, and cannabichromine (CBC), an anti-inflammatory, are unavailable in Marinol, and patients only have access to their therapeutic properties by using cannabis. Visit NORML.org for more information.
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Latest Medical Studies Rheumatoid Arthritis Medical marijuana can provide relief of joint pain and swelling as well as suppressing joint destruction and disease progression, according to new studies. More at www.NORML.org Alzheimer's Disease Medicinal cannabis reduced agitation and stimulated weight gain in late-stage Alzheimer’s patients; shows promise at preventing the neurodegenerative process. www. NORML.org Insomnia / Sleep Apnea Recent preclinical and clinical trials have reported on the use of THC, natural cannabis extracts, and endocannabinoids to induce sleep and/or improve sleep quality. More at www.NORML.org Reported Uses of Medical Cannabis Treatment of: • chronic pain • depression • gastrointestinal disorders • nausea • muscle spasm • Alzheimer's Disease • vomiting • sleep disorders • HIV-related symptoms • cancer pain • asthma • Tourette Syndrome • chemotherapy • migraines • Multiple Sclerosis • wasting • arthritis • Cystic Fibrosis • anxiety • epilepsy • Sickle Cell Disease See your doctor (or visit www.canorml.org to find a doctor) for a recommendation if you believe medical cannabis may be helpful to your medical condition.
