Medical Marijuana: Arizona Rejects Expanded List of Prescription Pot Ailments
Shortly after we reported that Arizona was weighing expanding the list of conditions for which medical marijuana is permitted, the state's Department of Health Services has just decided not to add more ailments such as depression, generalized anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, and migraines.
Department Secretary Will Humble wrote in a blog post last night: "I didn't approve the petitions because of the lack of published data regarding the risks and benefits of using Cannabis to treat or provide relief for the petitioned conditions."
He said: "Our literature review found limited scientific evidence to document whether Cannabis is helpful or not for the petitioned conditions or that support permanently adding the petitioned conditions to the statutory list of qualifying debilitating conditions identified in the Act."
The silver lining?
Some of these conditions cause symptoms -- such as "severe and chronic pain, severe nausea, severe and persistent muscle spasms, wasting, or seizures" -- which do qualify patients for the medical marijuana registry.
Also, Arizona state law allows for judicial review of the Department's decision, and the administration will again accept petitions for expanding the condition list next week.
Follow Victoria Bekiempis @vicbekiempis.
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