The American Medical Association has changed its position on whether marijuana should be classified by the federal government as a dangerous narcotic with no medicinal value.  Short-term trials indicate marijuana does have medicinal value, the AMA says in the executive summary of a new report.  The powerful doctors’ group supports the removal of the drug from the federal Schedule 1 classification as a controlled substance, to facilitate further research and development of the plant as a medicinal drug.

Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Steve Terrell, who pointed me to the AMA report, has done a great interview with one of the new medical marijuana non-profit owners. The new non-profit already has a Web site, called The NewMexiCannabis Project, which is available for all to see.

The Web site is under development, but there are already interesting tidbits there.  For example, one of the issues surrounding medical marijuana is the price. Many say that patients have to pay the same rates they would encounter on the black market, which for those who in many cases can’t work due to debilitating illnesses puts the drug out of reach.

The owner of NewMexiCann says his organization will work to solve that problem, and will also help potential patients who use the federal VA system find doctors outside that system who will recommend them for a license:

Are you a Licensed Patient in Hospice or undergoing advance Cancer Treatment who does not have the means to pay for your Medical Cannabis? Let us know. We will do our best to match you up with a sponsor who will pay half the cost and we will match it.

Are you a Veteran with a PTSD diagnosis from your VA psychiatrist but can’t get a Medical Cannabis recommendation because the VA docs hands are tied?  Contact us, we will help you find a doctor outside the VA system. If you are on disability and cannot afford the office visit, we will help with the cost.