Willamette Week | “Organ Failure” | May 21st, 2008
Garon, a 56-year-old professional musician who had hepatitis C, died after a University of Washington Medical Center committee denied him a spot on a liver-transplant list. Part of their reason: Garon used medical marijuana—which is legal under Washington law.
Garon wouldn’t have fared any better in Oregon, where medical marijuana has been legal since 1999. Hospitals here refuse to perform transplants on patients who treat their severe pain, nausea and other symptoms under the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program.
The state’s largest transplant program, run jointly by Oregon Health & Science University and the Portland VA Medical Center, turns away patients who use marijuana. Legacy Health System also performs kidney transplants and refuses marijuana users.
Those are the only two transplant programs in the state, leaving Oregon’s medical marijuana patients completely out in the cold.
It’s impossible to say anyone died just because they didn’t get a transplant. But at least 30 Oregonians who use medical weed have died in the past 10 years after hospitals denied them new organs, says Paul Stanford, head of the THC Foundation, a chain of medical-marijuana clinics based in Portland.
“It’s a death sentence,” says Madeline Martinez, head of the Oregon branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. “Most of the people have already expired because they didn’t have the transplant.”
Those affected include Jim Klahr, a 56-year-old professional musician from Brookings. He suffers from cirrhosis and hepatitis C, and quit taking medical marijuana in 2004 to qualify for a new liver.
Meanwhile, he lives with crippling nausea that used to vanish with a single puff of smoke. “I’ve capitulated because basically I don’t have much of a choice,” says Klahr, who sits on the 11-member state Advisory Committee on Medical Marijuana.
OHSU doctors also bar marijuana users because of medical concerns, including a higher risk of infection and pulmonary problems. Users of other illegal drugs, drinkers and even tobacco smokers are also barred from getting transplants, but anyone can join once they pass a drug test and meet other requirements.
Dr. William Bennett, head of kidney transplants at Legacy, says those are the same reasons his program bars marijuana users. He and Seely also say patients on mind-altering drugs are less likely to stick with their treatment in the long run, leading to a higher rate of transplant failure.
It amazes me when I read quotes from medical professionals that are so ignorant about cannabis. Take that line “Users of other illegal drugs, drinkers and even tobacco smokers are also barred from getting transplants”. Because those medical marijuana patients are just more “illegal drug users”? They’re just people looking to get high recreationally, like smokers and drinkers?
“Anyone can join once they pass a drug test?” What other legal, doctor-recommended medicines will you be testing for? Lipitor? Xanax? OxyContin? Percocet? Viagra? No, you’ll be testing for coke, meth, heroin, and of course, marijuana.
“Patients on mind-altering drugs are less likely to stick with their treatment?” What, you don’t think OxyContin is mind-altering? Have you ever listened to Rush Limbaugh?
“Risk of infection and pulmonary problems?” Once again, cannabis can be grown organically and taken orally or in vapor form – no infections or lung problems to speak of!
They can wrap it in as many excuses as they want, but these transplant programs simply want to discriminate against cannabis users because they have a moral issue with cannabis.
Contact your elected representatives and urge them to 'Stop Arresting Marijuana Smokers'. 
[...] will never receive it makes us wonder, Does the medical community suffer from Heart failure? More Here or DIGG [...]
[...] Jim Klahr is a well-known medical marijuana activist here in Oregon who also suffers from cirrhosis and hepatitis C. In an ironic twist, he sits on the state’s advisory committee on medical marijuana, yet hasn’t used his most effective medicine for his pain and nausea since 2004 because he’s terrified of losing his chance for a liver transplant. “I’ve capitulated because basically I don’t have much of a choice,” says Klahr. Paul Stanford of The Hemp & Cannabis Foundation, the state’s largest medical marijuana clinic, estimates at least 30 Oregonians who use medical weed have died in the past 10 years after hospitals denied them new organs. [...]
[...] Jim Klahr is a well-known medical marijuana activist here in Oregon who also suffers from cirrhosis and hepatitis C. In an ironic twist, he sits on the state’s advisory committee on medical marijuana, yet hasn’t used his most effective medicine for his pain and nausea since 2004 because he’s terrified of losing his chance for a liver transplant. “I’ve capitulated because basically I don’t have much of a choice,” says Klahr. Paul Stanford of The Hemp & Cannabis Foundation, the state’s largest medical marijuana clinic, estimates at least 30 Oregonians who use medical weed have died in the past 10 years after hospitals denied them new organs. [...]
Hello,
I am one of the patients who has been thrown out to die a painful and bloody Death. I guess that isn’t so bad because one of the advanced symptoms outside of regurgitating blood is the loss of my memory and finally my mind.
Pretty stark sentence eh’ for following my doctor’s advice in a State in which I have a legal right to choose not to become an Opiate addict and use a much much safer, natural route. Oregon Doctors at the only hospital that does transplantation other than VA have told me amazing things in defense of their Death sentence.
One Liver Doctor actually told me that Cannabis was more deadly than Meth-Amphetamine with a strait face! Another told me that the “Addiction Specialist” whom I have never even met would not accept the findings of a State Licensed Addiction Assessor saying that I am not addicted to anything except procrastination and Dr. Peppers.
He simply does not yield to “local” Doctors. EW!
The last thing kinda got to me. I was told not to protest to vigorously because I would be denied transplantation services in the Northwest and would have to seek treatment somewhere else – say California, Texas, or maybe India.
Well I guess that using a nom’de fear like M.Patient probably won’t help much.
Let’s see …Ignorance, Egotism, and retribution. Is that their version of Science?
I’ve been a bit flippant but – This IS my only life! I have seen the bony Doctor finger pointing out the door with admonitions that they were saddened that I didn’t follow their rules.
You see there are NO oversight organizations and these (Scientists?), “Liver mongers?”, “Physicians?” are my life’s only hope.
Thank You – People of NORML for your help and your compassion. Bless you all – See you folks later – or NOT!