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Assemblyman Introduces Bill in California Allowing Medical Cannabis for Pets

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[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]O[/dropcap]ne California congressman is determined to give veterinarians the ability to prescribe medical cannabis to dogs having a ‘ruff’ time with pain and arthritis.

Assembly Bill 2215, which was introduced by Democrat Ash Kalra of San Jose in February, would require the California Veterinary Medical Board to establish guidelines for veterinarians so they can discuss the use of cannabis for their animal patients.

“Right now, there is no guidance for veterinarians as for what they are able to do, so basically they are at risk of losing their license if they discuss cannabis with their patient owners,” Kalra told ABC7. The bill has passed the Business and Professions Committee and is currently being reviewed by the Appropriations Committee.

Retailers have already been trying CBD oil along with other cannabis products to help consumers with their aging or ailing pets. “So there’s no high to it. It’s purely medicinal,” said Dr. Tim Shu, a Cerritos-based veterinarian and founder of VETCBD that makes tinctures for pets. “The traditional medications – while they can be very effective – it doesn’t work for all pets, and so a lot of the time we need to look at other sources of potential medical benefit,” Shu said.

In February, Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine released the findings of first pharmacokinetic study and clinical trial on the use of cannabinoids for dogs. Specifically ElleVet’s oil blend is for canines, to treat dogs with osteoarthritis and multi-joint pain. Over 80 percent of dogs that ate the chews were seen with improvement. A similar study is underway with cats.

However, without medical guidance, owners are at risk of harming their pets by dosing cannabis to their pets without being under a professional’s care. Cannabis that can be high in THC is dangerous for animals, causing low blood pressure, seizures and more.

“I have had people carry their dogs in because they were so stoned they could not walk,” said Veterinarian Gary Richter. If cannabis is going to be available to pet owners to use for their pets it is critically important that we be involved in the discussion, not only to make sure that the medicine is effective, but also to keep these animals safe,” he added.

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