A California state lawmaker is pushing a bill that would allow veterinarians to prescribe pot for Dogs, cats and other animals.
Assemblyman Ash Kalra, a Democrat who represents San Jose, has introduced a bill in the California legislature that would protect veterinarians from disciplinary action for discussing the use of marijuana, also called cannabis, with the owners of pets. Kalra’s Assembly Bill 2215 would also set up guidelines for the state’s Veterinary Medical Board where veterinarians would be allowed to bring up the use of cannabis with pet or animal owners.
Marijuana for pets has support of petMD, others
Prescribing pot for pets has the support of some veterinarians, pet experts and others, including petMD, a website that says it is the largest source of pet health information in the world and includes a global network of veterinarians. Though not referencing Kalra’s bill directly, petMD says in its blog that “pet parents and veterinarians alike are finding that medical cannabis can provide positive benefits for dogs as well.”
“Cannabis oil can be used to treat seizures, nausea, stress, anxiety, arthritis, back pain, symptoms of cancer, and gastrointestinal issues, among other health conditions in dogs,” petMD wrote in the undated blog posting.
Veterinary Medical Association supports measure
The Sacramento Bee reports the measure has the support of the Veterinary Medical Association, a not-for-profit association that represents more than 91,000 veterinarians across the U.S.
“Veterinarians should be making these recommendations, not all these other people,” Valerie Fenstermaker, executive director of the Veterinary Medical Association, told the newspaper.
“Some veterinarians have expressed that they receive questions daily about this," she said.
California allows pot use for humans, but no mention of pets
California legalized the use and sale of pot for medicinal purposes nearly two decades ago, while on Jan. 1 the sale and cultivation of recreational marijuana for use by adults became legal.
But the California laws have made no mention of allowing it to be prescribed or offered for dogs, cats or other animals that may be suffering from any number of ailments.
Kalra's bill, introduced on Feb. 12, is still “pending referral” in the California Legislature, meaning it’s has yet to be assigned to a committee for a hearing.
