CROHN'S ON LIST FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Crohn's disease, which can cause abdominal pain, nausea and weight
loss, has been added to the list of illnesses qualifying patients
under state law to use medical marijuana.

A panel of the state Medical Quality Assurance Commission voted Friday
to include the disease, along with cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis,
epilepsy and other seizure disorders, spasticity disorders, glaucoma
and other terminal or debilitating medical conditions characterized by
"intractable pain" unrelieved by standard medical treatment.

The Washington State Medical Marijuana Act, created by the passage of
Initiative 692 in the fall of 1998, allows patients with those
conditions and a doctor's recommendation to possess and use marijuana
for medical purposes. Federal laws banning marijuana, however, remain
in effect.

Bonnie King, executive director of the commission, said panel members
noted the lack of research findings, and made their finding based on
anecdotal evidence.

"It's not been easy for the commission to be in this position," said
King. "These are traditionally trained physicians who would certainly
never prescribe marijuana themselves, but they have tried to be very
open-minded and listen to anecdotal evidence that medical marijuana
has some benefits. They've had to sort of step away from scientific
studies."

Not every Crohn's patient will qualify under the law, however. To
qualify, the patient must have "debilitating symptoms that are
unrelieved by standard treatments or medications." The disease, which
attacks the bowel, is not always debilitating, King said.

Rob Killian, the primary sponsor of Initiative 692, testified on
behalf of the petition. Many Crohn's patients have long espoused the
use of marijuana to ease more severe symptoms, he said.

"By adding this illness to the list, we are further safeguarding a
group of patients who need protection from criminal prosecution for
using a medicine that works," he said.

Under the law, the commission must consider petitions submitted by
patients or physicians to add terminal or debilitating conditions to
those covered by the act.

King said the next petition to be considered will be for hepatitis C,
a virus that can cause anorexia, abdominal discomfort, nausea and vomiting.
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Carol Ostrom may be reached at 206-464-2249. Her e-mail address
is costrom@seattletimes.com