Medical marijuana

April 2005     View PDF     En español

Buyers clubs and the law

Marijuana is an illegal substance, yet ‘buyers clubs’ have been established in some areas to provide the drug for people using marijuana for medical purposes. These clubs provide a safe, place to buy marijuana. Even though they are illegal under federal law, some cities like San Francisco have local laws permitting them to operate. Some even have programs that provide medical marijuana free or at reduced cost to people with limited incomes.

Legislation was approved on a public vote in California that allows physicians to prescribe marijuana for some medical conditions. HIV-associated wasting is one of four conditions in the legislation. While some healthcare providers have voiced concern over the safety of marijuana smoking, many providers have also been impressed with positive results in weight gain, mood and quality of life in their HIV-positive patients who use medical marijuana.