Last year, advocates fought hard for the passage of a new state law in California, aimed at ending discrimination against pain patients who use cannabis. The law was signed with great hope, as it was meant to protect individuals from unfair treatment based solely on the presence of THC in urine tests. However, instead of upholding this law and supporting patients' rights, the California Medical Board (CMA) has taken a disappointing turn.
CMA's new pain prescribing guidelines, surprisingly co-signed by Gov. Newsom, completely neglect the law's essence. They choose to perpetuate stigma against cannabis users rather than acknowledging their legitimate medical needs. These guidelines unfairly label cannabis users as prone to overdose and opioid use disorder, promoting harmful stereotypes that have long plagued the cannabis community.
Even more concerning is the fact that these guidelines advise physicians to consult with addiction medicine specialists when treating patients who use cannabis for pain relief. This not only adds an unnecessary layer of complexity to the treatment process but also further marginalizes patients who have found relief through cannabis.
Perhaps the most infuriating aspect of these guidelines is how they downplay the multitude of studies that have shown cannabis use can effectively reduce the need for opioid medications in managing pain. By ignoring this valuable research, CMA is doing a disservice to patients who could benefit from safer alternatives to opioids.
Moreover, cannabis is legal, a positive urine test result should not lead to dismissal of a patient from care unless it conflicts with the pain management agreement.
It is disheartening to witness the very institution that should prioritize patient well-being instead propagate harmful narratives and continue to stigmatize cannabis users. The fight for the rights of medical marijuana patients in California is far from over, and we must remain vigilant to hold CMA accountable for their disregard of the law and patients' rights.
If you are as outraged as we are by CMA's actions, I encourage you to
download and share the flyer about Medical Marijuana Patients Rights in California to spread awareness about this issue. Together, we can work towards a more compassionate and inclusive healthcare system that respects the choices of pain patients and acknowledges the potential benefits of cannabis in pain management.
#CMA #MedicalMarijuana #PatientRights #EndStigma #PainManagement #CannabisCommunity
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