State health officials have added post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) as a new qualifying condition for the state’s medical cannabis program starting in August 2017. State Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger:
Petitioners put forward a total of nine conditions for consideration this year, including PTSD, schizophrenia, acquired absence of limb (phantom limb syndrome), arthritis, autism, depression, diabetes, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and insomnia.
Ehlinger says they will also allow manufacturers to develop cannabis topical products including patches, lotions, creams, gels and ointments.
When the 2014 Minnesota Legislature authorized the creation of a medical cannabis program in Minnesota, the law included a set of nine medical conditions that would qualify a person to receive medical cannabis. State rules also direct the commissioner of health to consider the possible addition of other qualifying conditions and delivery methods.
Throughout June and July, Minnesotans were invited to submit petitions to add qualifying conditions. MDH received nine petitions for new qualifying conditions and petitions for new delivery methods including topical, edible and vaporizing the whole plant. The process included nearly 50 public comments, a citizens’ review panel and a set of research summaries for each condition prepared by MDH staff.
Under current law, patients certified with PTSD will be eligible to receive medical cannabis from the state’s two medical cannabis manufacturers beginning August 1, 2017. As with the program’s other qualifying conditions, patients will need advance certification from a Minnesota health care provider. More information on the program’s certification process is available on the MDH website at the Office of Medical Cannabis