Minnesota Okays Medical Marijuana; Guidelines; Who Can Enroll, Where to Purchase and How It's Done
Medical cannabis in oils, vapors and pills only; patients need to follow guidelines to be able to get treatment.
Minnesota Legislature has legalized the use of medical marijuana. This does not include the plant form but it allows the use of pills, vapors and oils only.
Only those that have received their doctor's permission will be allowed to legally purchase and use medical marijuana. As of the moment, nine serious conditions have been noted to respond to the effects of medical marijuana. Legislature however is determining if intractable pain may be added to the list.
Commissioner Ed Ehlinger mentioned that during the program's first successful months intractable pain would be added to the list starting August 1.
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Doctors may be convinced
A representative from the Minnesota Medical Solutions, one of the two medical marijuana manufacturers in the state said that he is confident that soon doctors may be convinced that medical marijuana is an attractive alternative to deadly opiates. The representative also said that medical cannabis is not just an effective treatment but it could be the tool to fight the "opioid scourge."
Timeline of events
In July 1, 2016, health practitioners were allowed to start certifying medical marijuana for patients with intractable pain. By August 2, 2016, patients that have been certified or diagnosed with intractable pain are now eligible to receive medical cannabis for treatment.
Who can enroll?
Only legal Minnesota residents that have been diagnosed with these conditions are allowed to receive medical marijuana treatment in the state for the following health conditions:
- Cancer with severe or chronic pain, severe vomiting, nausea, severe wasting
- Glaucoma
- Tourette Syndrome
- HIV/AIDS
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Seizures including seizures characteristic of epilepsy
- Severe muscle spasms that persist; are characteristic of Multiple Sclerosis
- Inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease
- Terminal illness with a life expectancy of less than a year
- Intractable pain
Patients must also be 18-years old, with proof of residency and with legitimate records from their primary care physician.
What are the requirements?
To be able to qualify for the program, patients should be suffering from cancer or a terminal illness with less than a year life expectancy. Patients wherein their illness or treatment leads to chronic or severe pain, severe vomiting or nausea or severe wasting are also qualified.
Patients should receive regular treatment from their physicians and must secure a prescription for their medication. A medical marijuana card must be secured from the State as well.
Medical marijuana physicians will be the one to supply their patients with their medication in compliance with the law. All medical marijuana distributed by the State's 2 manufacturers should contain a maximum of a 20-day supply of the dosage requirements for each patient.
