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US: Med Marijuana OK, Says TMA

Jordan Smith

Austin Chronicle

Monday 24 May 2004

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On May 14, during its annual state convention, the Texas Medical
Association unanimously - and without discussion - adopted a new policy
recommendation supporting the right of doctors and patients to discuss
medical marijuana as a viable treatment option, without fear of
recrimination by authorities. The TMA delegates also reaffirmed the
association's call for further research on medicinal marijuana, "including
well-controlled studies in patients who have serious pain-related
conditions," according to the report of the TMA's Council on Scientific
Affairs, which was approved by the TMA delegates. "Paramount is support
for physicians to discuss with patients any treatment option available and
to do so without recrimination for the physician and/or patient."

Noelle Davis, executive director of the fledgling group Texans for Medical
Marijuana, was thrilled. "The most important thing is that they
acknowledge that marijuana is a viable treatment option," she said. "This
is most important because the federal government says that medical
marijuana is a cruel hoax. So when this body passes [this recommendation]
without a peep, that tells me it is a viable option."

The quickly adopted policy recommendation wasn't really a surprise, says
TMA spokesman Brent Annear, because doctors "vehemently" protect their
right to discuss any topic of importance to their patients. "It's really a
patient's free speech issue," he said. Still, approval by the nearly
40,000 member group - the country's largest and, arguably, most powerful
state medical association - could be politically potent ammunition for TMM
as it pushes for the passage of a state law protecting medical marijuana
patients. "This is absolutely a step in the right direction," Davis said.

 

 

 

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