Michigan regulator to consider expanding medical cannabis conditions list

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A top Michigan regulator will consider an advisory board’s recommendation to add chronic pain, autism and other conditions to a list of allowable medical conditions for the use of marijuana.

The review panel recommended including the following conditions:

  • Obsessive compulsive disorder
  • Arthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Tourette syndrome
  • Autism
  • Chronic pain

Adding the conditions would expand the business opportunities and patient pool for the state’s dispensaries.

Chronic pain attracts the most medical marijuana patients in nearly every state where the drug is allowed.

State regulators are aiming to issue the first state medical marijuana permits by June 15.

Shelly Edgerton, director of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, has until July 10 to decide on nine of the recommendations. She has until Aug. 6 to make a determination on chronic pain.

In 2015, a previous director rejected a recommendation to allow medical cannabis use for autism.

Medical marijuana is allowed to relieve the side effects of cancer and other conditions. Only post-traumatic stress disorder has been added since Michigan voters approved the law in 2008.

Associated Press