Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Minnesota will allow the use of medical marijuana to treat people suffering post-traumatic stress disorder, state health officials said Thursday.
The Minnesota Department of Health had been weighing requests to expand the use of medical cannabis for PTSD, autism, arthritis, depression and other conditions.
"While the process of reviewing these potential additions was difficult due to the relative lack of published scientific evidence, PTSD presented the strongest case for potential benefits," Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger said in a statement.
"PTSD also has few effective treatment alternatives available for some patients with the condition," he added.
One of the state's two authorized manufacturers of medical cannabis applauded the move, saying it would help thousands of Minnesota veterans and others suffering from PTSD.
"As a veteran of the Minnesota National Guard with a background in emergency medicine, it pains me to see so many veterans struggle with PTSD," Dr. Kyle Kingsley, CEO of Minnesota Medical Solutions, said in a statement. "Today's decision offers new hope to an estimated 30,000 Minnesota veterans, as well as survivors of other traumatic and life-altering events, afflicted with PTSD."
The decision means that patients certified with PTSD will be eligible for medical cannabis starting August 2017. As with other allowed conditions, patients will need advance certification from a Minnesota health care provider, the department added.
The expansion comes a year after Ehlinger chose to add intractable pain as a qualifying condition. That addition significantly increased the patient pool in the struggling program.
The department also said it will allow the state's medical marijuana manufacturers to develop topical formulations such as creams or patches, as a way to deliver medical cannabis.
Minnesota lawmakers passed one of the strictest medical marijuana laws in the country in 2014, limiting the conditions that qualify for the program and banning the use of medical cannabis in plant form.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Minnesota OKs Medical Pot For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Author: Staff
Contact: 651-290-1500
Photo Credit: Tim Nelson
Website: MPR News
The Minnesota Department of Health had been weighing requests to expand the use of medical cannabis for PTSD, autism, arthritis, depression and other conditions.
"While the process of reviewing these potential additions was difficult due to the relative lack of published scientific evidence, PTSD presented the strongest case for potential benefits," Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger said in a statement.
"PTSD also has few effective treatment alternatives available for some patients with the condition," he added.
One of the state's two authorized manufacturers of medical cannabis applauded the move, saying it would help thousands of Minnesota veterans and others suffering from PTSD.
"As a veteran of the Minnesota National Guard with a background in emergency medicine, it pains me to see so many veterans struggle with PTSD," Dr. Kyle Kingsley, CEO of Minnesota Medical Solutions, said in a statement. "Today's decision offers new hope to an estimated 30,000 Minnesota veterans, as well as survivors of other traumatic and life-altering events, afflicted with PTSD."
The decision means that patients certified with PTSD will be eligible for medical cannabis starting August 2017. As with other allowed conditions, patients will need advance certification from a Minnesota health care provider, the department added.
The expansion comes a year after Ehlinger chose to add intractable pain as a qualifying condition. That addition significantly increased the patient pool in the struggling program.
The department also said it will allow the state's medical marijuana manufacturers to develop topical formulations such as creams or patches, as a way to deliver medical cannabis.
Minnesota lawmakers passed one of the strictest medical marijuana laws in the country in 2014, limiting the conditions that qualify for the program and banning the use of medical cannabis in plant form.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Minnesota OKs Medical Pot For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Author: Staff
Contact: 651-290-1500
Photo Credit: Tim Nelson
Website: MPR News
