Time for DC to Rethink Medical Marijuana?

Imagine being sentenced to ten years in prison simply for using simply for using a medication recommended by your doctor. Think it couldn't happen in DC? Think again. Jimmy Montgomery, a parapalegic, used medical marijuana to control muscle spasms caused by his the pouch of his wheelchair, he was (incredibly) charged with intent to distribute. Montgomery was convicted and received a life sentence, which on appeal was reduced to ten years.

This may be an extreme example, but it reminds us that patients that use Medical Marijuana do so at risk of imprisonment.

Now this week, new research shows Marijuana can improve the effectiveness of drug therapy for Hepatitis C

Treatment for Hepatitis C involves two drugs: interferon and ribavirin. These drugs have so many harsh side effects, it's hard for many people to get through the treatment. Side effects vary widely, but individuals can go through bouts of deppression, aching muscles and severe fatigue, and nausea that can be so severe that simply eating enough food every day can be a challenge. Find out more here.

Well now research from University of California at SF and at an Oakland shows that marijuana can help address those side effects, and that folks who use marijuana during the treatment are more likely to finish the treatment, and more likely to have a succcesful treatment outcome.

An estimated 4.1 million Americans have been infected with Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a major issue for DC, both for people who are HIV negative, and people who are co-infected with HIV and Hepatitis C.

This is a disease that hits the African American Community hardest. African Americans are two times more likely than whites to have Hepatitis C. Further, African Americans don't respond as well to current available treatments.

In light of this news about Hepatitis C, and what we already know about how medical marijuana can help folks with other conditions like HIV, Washington DC must revisit the issue of Medical Marijuana.

As you may remember, in 1998 there was a DC referendum on medical marijuana, and polling data suggested that there was strong support for in DC.
Unfortunately, the results of that vote were never released to the public. Here's what the DC Board of Elections said:

"Under pressure and mandate from Congress, the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics today announced that the Board will not release the vote results of Initiative Measure No. 59, 'Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Treatment Initiative of 1998'. D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics Chairman Benjamin F. Wilson stated that 'a recent statute passed by Congress precludes the expenditure of any appropriated funds for Initiative Measure No. 59.'"

That's right. After the vote took place, Congress blocked the release of the results. Read the whole press release here.

It's been eight years since that happened, though. And now, we have even more valid scientific data about the benefits of Medical Marijuana. How do we get this issue back into the spotlight? Is there any hope? I don't know to be honest, but I hope that this post will spark the debate, and if you have suggestions or are interested in working on this, please let me know.