Last updated on: 4/2/2009 | Author: ProCon.org

James A. McDermott, MD Biography

Title:
Former Member of the US House of Representatives (D-WA)
Position:
Pro to the question "Should Marijuana Be a Medical Option?"
Reasoning:

Co-sponsor of H.R. 2592, the States’ Rights to Medical Marijuana Act.

2002
Theoretical Expertise Ranking:
     Key Experts
Physicians [Physicians are the "key experts" in the medical marijuana debate because the issue is thought by many to be ultimately based on the medical value and risks of marijuana, and Physicians, with their training and clinical work, should (at least in theory) have the best knowledge of marijuana's medical value and risks.] [Note: Key Experts definition varies by sites that have this designation.]
Involvement and Affiliations:
  • Member, US House of Representatives (D-WA), 7th District of Washington, 1989-2017
  • Former Member, Subcommittee on Health, Committee on Ways and Means
  • Founder and Former Chair, Congressional Task Force on International HIV/AIDS
  • Co-sponsor, States’ Rights to Medical Marijuana Act
  • Regional Medical Officer, US Foreign Service, Kinshasa, Zaire, 1987-1988
  • Member, Public Health Associates of Seattle, WA, 1983-1986
  • Lt. Commander, Chief Psychiatrist, US Navy Medical Corps, Long Beach Naval Station, CA, 1968-1970
Education:
  • Residency, Child Psychology, University of Washington Hospitals, 1966-1968
  • Residency, Adult Psychology, University of Illinois Hospitals, 1964-1966
  • MD, University of Illinois Medical School, 1963
  • BS, Wheaton College, Illinois, 1958
Other:
  • Introduced the AIDS Housing Opportunities Act