Physicians and Medicinal Cannabis

Physicians are in a legal/ethical quandary:  Science shows that cannabis is a safe and effective medication yet the federal government has placed it in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances making it illegal for them to prescribe.  In the historic rescheduling petition of NORML and ACT vs the DEA, the DEA's Administrative Law Judge, Francis Young, concluded in 1988 that cannabis must be removed from Schedule I.  After reading all of the evidence, pro and con, he noted that cannabis was "one of the safest therapeutic substances known to man."  If this herbal medicine is so safe, surely physicians should be able to prescribe it to their patients.

Patients Out of Time strongly believes that physicians must educate themselves on the science of medicinal cannabis and the endocannabinoid system.  Once educated, physicians must be proactive and work towards ending the cannabis prohibition.  It is not OK to simply shy away from or ignore this issue.  Cannabis has the potential to improve the quality of life for countless patients.  They need and expect your support.

Recent Events of Interest to Physicians

November, 2009 - American Medical Association changes position on medical marijuana, recommending more research and possible changing of the federal scheduling of marijuana.

April, 2009 - Dr. Frank Lucido, Dr. David Bearman, other MDs and researchers form the American Academy of Cannabis Medicine to establish board certification for physicians recommending Medical Cannabis, to provide clinical expertise and legal assistance.

May, 2009 - The University of California's School of Medicine at San Fransisco announces Continuing Medical Education Accreditation for Patients Out of Time's series of Clinical Medical Conferences on Cannabis Thereapeutics, beginning with on-line video presentations from the 2008 conference in Pacific Grove, CA.

May, 2008 - The National Clinical Advisory Board of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society  issued an "Expert Opinion Paper - Treatment Recommendations for Physicians", which recognizes the healing properties of Cannabinoids and Cannabis (marijuana), specific to the pain and muscle spasticity of MS. The MS Society also calls for research into the neuroprotective aspects of Cannabinoids, following evidence that the progression of the disease can be slowed or halted by these remarkable therapeutic agents. The Society also recognized that close to one half of MS patients in America report using Cannabis as their medicine of choice.

Headline: Feb.16.2008 - Ease Up on Marijuana, Doctors Group Tells Feds - American College of Physicians, representing 124,000 MDs, the largest group of internal medicine doctors in America, has endorsed using Cannabis for medical purposes and is urging the U.S. Congress to remove it from Schedule One (which stipulates a drug as having no medical use) of the Controlled Substances Act. The ACP Position Paper (PDF) also calls for protection for doctors and patients in the twelve U.S. states that have legalized medical marijuana, now suffering raids and intimidation at the hands of the federal government.

Video - Doctors & Medical Cannabis, Dr. Frank Lucido, April, 2008 - At Fifth National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics, held in Pacific Grove, CA, April, 2008, Dr. Frank Lucido has a message for physicians new to the field of Medical Cannabis.