Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
The panel of doctors that reviews medical conditions for inclusion in the state's medical marijuana program voted today to approve ALS and Ulcerative Colitis to the list of 14 approved ailments. But a tie vote on a request for Fabry Disease to join the list made that proposal less likely to pass.
It's up to Consumer Protection Commissioner Jonathan Harris to decide on whether any, or all three win approval to join the overall list of diseases and afflictions.
The hour-long meeting erupted in controversy over the method in which afflictions are reviewed by the Board of Physicians.
One of the four members - Dr. Deepak Cyril D'Souza, professor of psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine and director of the schizophrenia research at the Veterans Administration Hospital in West Haven - who voted against the three new diseases, warned that the group has been working without appropriate scientific research.
But other members of the board, along with Harris, said additions of new ailments to the original 11 approved in the landmark 2012 law, are bound to be based on patient experiences because scientific research on effects of marijuana was prohibited for decades and is only now emerging.
Dr. Jonathan Kost, Dr. Vincent R. Carlesi and Dr. Godrey D. Pearlson outnumbered D-Souza in a 3-1 vote in favor of adding Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis to the list.
But Pearlson, a professor of psychiatry and neurobiology at Yale who has generally favored adding ailments to the list for eligibility, had to leave the meeting before final votes on Ulcerative Colitis and Fabry Disease, a genetic disorder that causes severe muscular pain and rashes that also kills blood capillaries.
Ulcerative Colitis is an inflammation of the lining of the intestines. Harris initially held the vote open until 4:30, but Pearlson voted after an unrelated telephone conference. He joined Kost and Carlesi in voting for Ulcerative Colitis, but sided with D'Souza against adding Fabry Disease.
Harris, in an afternoon interview, said as commissioner he has the final decision on whether any ailments are added and will make his decision later this month.
Earlier this year, the board approved adding sickle cell disease, arthritic psoriasis and a type of failed back surgery to the list of eligible diseases. They are currently being drafted and reviewed for submitting to the legislative Regulation Review Committee. Harris hopes the next batch can be approved by the legislative panel later this year.
Currently, Patients are allowed to participate if their doctors have certified that they have cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, spinal injuries, epilepsy, Cachexia, wasting syndrome, Crohn's Disease and post-traumatic stress disorder.
There are currently 3,635 certified patients and 200 doctors signed up for the program.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: ALS and Colitis added to medical marjuana program - Connecticut Post
Author: Ken Dixon
Contact: kdixon@ctpost.com
Photo Credit: Matilde Campodonico, AP
Website: CTPost: Southwest Connecticut Area News, Fairfield County News, Sports, Business, Entertainment, Real Estate, Classifieds - Connecticut Post
It's up to Consumer Protection Commissioner Jonathan Harris to decide on whether any, or all three win approval to join the overall list of diseases and afflictions.
The hour-long meeting erupted in controversy over the method in which afflictions are reviewed by the Board of Physicians.
One of the four members - Dr. Deepak Cyril D'Souza, professor of psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine and director of the schizophrenia research at the Veterans Administration Hospital in West Haven - who voted against the three new diseases, warned that the group has been working without appropriate scientific research.
But other members of the board, along with Harris, said additions of new ailments to the original 11 approved in the landmark 2012 law, are bound to be based on patient experiences because scientific research on effects of marijuana was prohibited for decades and is only now emerging.
Dr. Jonathan Kost, Dr. Vincent R. Carlesi and Dr. Godrey D. Pearlson outnumbered D-Souza in a 3-1 vote in favor of adding Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis to the list.
But Pearlson, a professor of psychiatry and neurobiology at Yale who has generally favored adding ailments to the list for eligibility, had to leave the meeting before final votes on Ulcerative Colitis and Fabry Disease, a genetic disorder that causes severe muscular pain and rashes that also kills blood capillaries.
Ulcerative Colitis is an inflammation of the lining of the intestines. Harris initially held the vote open until 4:30, but Pearlson voted after an unrelated telephone conference. He joined Kost and Carlesi in voting for Ulcerative Colitis, but sided with D'Souza against adding Fabry Disease.
Harris, in an afternoon interview, said as commissioner he has the final decision on whether any ailments are added and will make his decision later this month.
Earlier this year, the board approved adding sickle cell disease, arthritic psoriasis and a type of failed back surgery to the list of eligible diseases. They are currently being drafted and reviewed for submitting to the legislative Regulation Review Committee. Harris hopes the next batch can be approved by the legislative panel later this year.
Currently, Patients are allowed to participate if their doctors have certified that they have cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, spinal injuries, epilepsy, Cachexia, wasting syndrome, Crohn's Disease and post-traumatic stress disorder.
There are currently 3,635 certified patients and 200 doctors signed up for the program.
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: ALS and Colitis added to medical marjuana program - Connecticut Post
Author: Ken Dixon
Contact: kdixon@ctpost.com
Photo Credit: Matilde Campodonico, AP
Website: CTPost: Southwest Connecticut Area News, Fairfield County News, Sports, Business, Entertainment, Real Estate, Classifieds - Connecticut Post
