Jenn was told something similar to this regarding marijuana and kidney transplants. "Cedars-Sinai spokeswoman Sally Stewart told L.A. Now that medical marijuana users can be exposed to a species of mold that can cause fatal disease among patients with weak immune systems. Patients are also susceptible to a fatal lung infection post-transplant."
Smith said he started using medical marijuana while suffering "extreme pain" and "physical anguish" after an unrelated back surgery. Miles approved of his patient's medical marijuana use to manage his pain plus the effects of chemotherapy and refilled Smith's medical marijuana prescription. Smith stopped using the drug in August and is hopeful for a liver transplant.
The mold issue is a bogus concern. I'm not sure why someone would smoke moldy weed, you also shouldn't eat moldy bread. But if that is the primary concern then there are all sorts of baked mj goods that carry no mold risk. When I read these stories what I see is nanny state tut tutting.I watched Ken Burns' Prohibition documentary and I see very little difference between today and the period between the 18th and 21st amendment. The vast sums the state spends on persecuting pot smokers employs tens of thousands of people, and it are these self interested rent seekers that drive the foolish policy forward with all its tragic effects - denying transplants to people is on that list.
My advice was to find another transplant program. I referred him to Pittsburgh. He went up for an eval about 2 weeks later and was immediately listed. Also, only "cost" him $150K. Received his transplant less than 3 months after that, was out of the hospital in 2 weeks and back home in six weeks. Even received a refund. A happily ever after story? Nope. Began drinking again about a year after transplant, got sloppy w/his meds and experienced irreversible liver damage a few months later. He never made it for a second transplant.Bottom line - There is more to Mr. Smith's story than what is being told in this article.
As for the "mold" issue, we do not know in what context it was brought up. Maybe it was one of numerous questions asked of the Cedars spokesperson and this was the only one the article's author wished to quote. There is a bias and agenda to this story.
Medical marijuana is a fraud in my opinion since the DEA already went to great lengths to make Marinol available to any patient through prescriptions just as writing narcotics is one of many controlled substances.
Here is a good review of Aspergillosis in liver transplant patients associated with marijuana use.http://naltsw.org/liver_muse.html
Oh my GOD!!!! Transplant recipients are not supposed to vacuum? Why was this information kept from me when it could have done me some good?? Why is it only the fun things that everyone tries to order you not to do?? If anyone tells me that transplant patients are not supposed to change dirty diapers I'm filing a lawsuit!!!!