Director of State Policies for Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)
Position:
Pro to the question "Should marijuana be a medical option?"
Reasoning:
"It is fundamentally wrong to make preserving one's health -- or life -- a crime. Yet the federal law on marijuana and many state laws do just that. There is overwhelming evidence that marijuana is one of the safest available treatment options, when used at the direction of a physician. Even the DEA's Chief Administrative Law Judge, Francis Young, came to that conclusion. Research has shown that marijuana alleviates pain, nausea, AIDS and cancer wasting, and glaucoma. In trials where patients have been allowed to present evidence of their medical need for marijuana, courts have frequently found that marijuana it is medically necessary to their health. With roughly 20% of all cancer deaths caused by wasting, it is cruel and senseless to criminalize the doctor-advised use of a safe, effective, and widely available treatment."
Experts PhD's and JD's (lawyers) with significant post-doctoral involvement in medical marijuana issues; judges who have presided over medical marijuana cases. [Note: Experts definition varies by site.]
Involvement and Affiliations:
Director of State Policies, Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), Nov. 2008-present
Assistant Director of State Policies, MPP, Apr. 2006-Nov. 2008
Attorney and Legislative Analyst, MPP, 2003-2006
Research Assistant, Loyola School of Law, 2001-2003
William Crowe Scholar, 2003
Recipient, Gillis Long Public Service Award, 2003
Education:
JD, Loyola School of Law, New Orleans, LA
BA, Public Policy and International Studies, Michigan State University
