Medical marijuana can already be used to treat 22 debilitating diseases for adults in Connecticut and six for children. On Wednesday, the Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner as well as the State Board of Physicians discussed adding seven more conditions to the list.
This is a list of conditions petitioned by the public for adults and the board’s recommendations:
- Atopic Dermatitis, Eczema – No
- Muscular Dystrophy - Yes
- Fibromyalgia – Yes, but only with neuropathic pain and/or spasticity
- Osteoarthritis – No
- Post herpetic Neuralgia, Peripheral Neuropathy and Allodynia from Shingles – Yes, but add “Post Herpetic Neuralgia”
- Rheumatoid Arthritis – Yes
- Severe COPD/Emphysema – No
The board also recommended adding muscular dystrophy to the list for minors.
If the commissioner chooses to agree with the board’s recommendations, each condition will go through a formal regulation process, which includes a period for public comment and review by the legislative regulation review committee.
One of the people asking for consideration was Regina Walsh. Her 95-year-old father George Walsh suffered from shingles a few years ago.
"The blisters resolved, but he's been left with a constant debilitating pain and discomfort from it that is so sensitive that even clothes against his skin is very disruptive to him," Walsh said.
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Walsh said her father is willing to try topical cannabis, if it is fully approved for shingles, since all the other treatments he has tried did not work.
“Nothing has helped and they have in fact made conditions worse. Being 95 years old, he is very sensitive to drugs and medication. Some of the drugs caused weakness in his legs and contributed to him falling, which is very dangerous when you’re 95. So we’re looking for some alternatives and he is very game for this.”
There are currently 15,115 medical marijuana patients, 591 physicians registered to certify patients, 22 conditions approved for adults, and six conditions approved for patients under the age of 18.
For adults, debilitating medical conditions include:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- Positive Status for Human Immunodeficiency Virus or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
- Parkinson's Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Damage to the Nervous Tissue of the Spinal Cord with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity
- Epilepsy
- Cachexia
- Wasting Syndrome
- Crohn's Disease
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Post Laminectomy Syndrome with Chronic Radiculopathy
- Severe Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Irreversible Spinal Cord Injury with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity
- Terminal Illness Requiring End-Of-Life Care
- Uncontrolled Intractable Seizure Disorder
For patients under 18, debilitating medical conditions include:
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Irreversible Spinal Cord Injury with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity
- Severe Epilepsy
- Terminal Illness Requiring End-Of-Life Care
- Uncontrolled Intractable Seizure Disorder
Those who wish to find more information about the program may visitwww.ct.gov/DCP/mmp, or contact the Drug Control Division atdcp.mmp@ct.gov or (860) 713-6066.
The Board of Physicians meets at least twice a year to consider petitions. Members of the public may petition the board by filling out a form.
If the board recommends that a condition be added and the commissioner agrees, condition additions will then go through the formal regulation process, which includes a period for public comment and review by the legislative regulation review committee.
