State of California Says No Organ Transplants for Marijuana Users (at least for now)

 

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation that will prevent doctors and hospitals from denying organ transplants to medical marijuana users just because of their pot use. Unfortunately, the law doesn't take effect unitl January 1, 2016. Until then, patients can be denied life-saving organ transplants simply on the grounds that they smoke marijuana.

 

The Democratic governor announced Monday that he signed AB258 by Democratic Assemblyman Marc Levine of San Rafael.

 

Supporters say some patients who use medical marijuana have been denied life-saving organ transplants because they are treated by doctors as drug abusers. Marijuana is often prescribed to cancer and other patients to help with pain and side effects of treatment.

 

Levine's legislation ensures that medical marijuana users have the same right to access organ transplants as other patients by prohibiting a hospital or doctor from disqualifying a person solely because of medical marijuana use.

 

But if you need an organ transplant now, you might want to re-think smoking that joint, as a blood test will confirm cannabis use and that could stop your transplant from happening.