Tod H. Mikuriya

Author Dr. Tod Mikuriya

Tod H. Mikuriya
Born	Tod Hiro Mikuriya September 20, 1933 Pennsylvania, United States
Died	May 20, 2007 Berkeley, California, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Psychiatrist
Known for	Advocacy for medical cannabis

Tod Hiro Mikuriya (September 20, 1933 – May 20, 2007) was an American psychiatrist and a prominent advocate for the use of medical cannabis. He was instrumental in the drafting and passage of California's Proposition 215, also known as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, which legalized the use of medical cannabis in the state.

Early Life and Education

Mikuriya was born in Pennsylvania to a Japanese American father and a German American mother. He attended Reed College in Portland, Oregon, and later transferred to Temple University in Philadelphia, where he earned his medical degree. He completed his psychiatric residency at the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas.

Career

Mikuriya began his career as a psychiatrist at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Menlo Park, California. He later worked at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), where he conducted research on the therapeutic potential of cannabis.

Advocacy for Medical Cannabis

Mikuriya was a strong proponent of the medical benefits of cannabis. He believed that cannabis could be used to treat a variety of conditions, including chronic pain, nausea, and anxiety. His advocacy was crucial in the drafting and passage of California's Proposition 215, which allowed patients to use cannabis for medical purposes with a doctor's recommendation.

Publications

Mikuriya authored several books and articles on the medical use of cannabis. His most notable work is Marijuana Medical Papers, a compilation of historical and scientific research on the therapeutic uses of cannabis.

Death

Tod H. Mikuriya passed away on May 20, 2007, in Berkeley, California, due to complications from cancer.

Legacy

Mikuriya's work has had a lasting impact on the medical cannabis movement. He is remembered as a pioneer in the field and a tireless advocate for patients' rights to access medical cannabis.

See Also

• Medical cannabis
• Proposition 215
• Cannabis in California
• Cannabis and health