Pubdate: Wed, 15 Sep 2010
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Copyright: 2010 The Seattle Times Company
Contact:  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/409
Author: Carol M. Ostrom, Seattle Times health reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?253 (Cannabis - Medicinal - U.S.)

STATE OKs MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR CHRONIC KIDNEY FAILURE

The state has added chronic kidney failure to the list of conditions 
for which medical marijuana is permitted under state law but has 
rejected petitions to add Alzheimer's and neuropathic pain.

In approving chronic kidney failure, the state Medical Quality 
Assurance Commission said it was convinced that nausea caused by 
dialysis could be helped by marijuana. But it noted that using 
marijuana could also jeopardize a renal-failure patient's eligibility 
for transplant or have other adverse effects and that patients need 
to be informed of that when a provider authorizes them to use 
marijuana legally.

That petition was brought by Kenneth Lachman, a dialysis patient.

For neuropathic pain, the commission concluded that the term is so 
broad it might include some disorders that would already qualify, and 
others that don't. The request to include it was made by Dr. Sunil 
Aggarwal on behalf of the Cannabis Defense Coalition.

For Alzheimer's disease, the commission said there was insufficient 
scientific or anecdotal evidence to support the contention of Kemp 
LaMunyon Sr., an Eastern Washington medical-marijuana advocate, that 
it could help prevent the disease in humans.

For more information: www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/medical-marijuana/default.htm 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake