Ohio regulators reject autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder as requirements for medical potency

Ohio’s cannabis regulators last week added irritable bowel syndrome as a requirement for medical marijuana use, but declined to authorize petitions to add autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder to the state’s list.

Under Ohio medical marijuana laws, interested parties are permitted to submit a request to the Ohio Medical Board to introduce new licensing requirements on an annual basis. Last week, the board voted to approve petitions to include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). At the same time, however, the board announced that it would not add autism or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to the list this year.

“While this addition will help expand patient access to medical marijuana and benefit many Ohio patients with this condition, we are disappointed that the board did not approve Autism Spectrum Disorder and OCD,” said Charlie Trefny, Director of Governmental Affairs for the USA Industry Group of the Ohio Medical Cannabis Industry Association.

The board followed the recommendations of the committee

The board’s decisions followed the recommendations of its Medical Marijuana Committee. dr Irritable Bowel Syndrome Committee expert Frederick Slezak said that medical marijuana use can help reduce symptoms such as vomiting, pain and nausea. He also pointed out that while most other therapies for IBS are geared towards long-term treatment, cannabis can be effective for acute symptoms.

dr LaRae Copley, one of the committee’s autism experts, said there weren’t enough placebo-controlled trials of cannabis treatment to support the condition’s inclusion on the state’s list of qualified disorders. The committee’s OCD expert, Dr. Timothy Kantz said some studies had shown promising results but added that he thought the quality of some of the evidence was weak.

In both cases, the committee’s experts said that the potential risks of cannabis, including psychosis, negative effects on cognitive development and disorders of cannabis use, outweighed the benefits. But patient advocates denied this claim.

“The available scientific evidence and the experience of countless patients and physicians tell us that there are thousands of Ohioans who suffer from these conditions who could benefit from medical marijuana treatment,” said Matt Close, executive director of the Ohio Medical Cannabis Industry Association .

Aaron Bloom, the CEO of DocMJ, a statewide medical marijuana practice, welcomed the inclusion of irritable bowel syndrome as a qualifying condition for Ohio’s medical cannabis program. But he added that we should “aspire to a healthcare system that values ​​the expertise of healthcare professionals and respects the diverse needs of patients.”

“To truly realize the full potential of medicinal cannabis, it is important that physicians are empowered to use their professional judgment and recommend it to patients based on their individual needs, rather than being constrained by a predefined list of approved medical conditions” , Bloom wrote in an article statement to High Times. “By enabling physicians to make informed decisions about medical cannabis recommendations, we can ensure patients receive the best possible care and have access to a full range of treatment options.”

More than a dozen qualifying conditions

Ohio’s medical marijuana program currently lists more than a dozen qualifying conditions that qualify a patient for medical use of cannabis, including acquired immune deficiency syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cancer, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, epilepsy or other seizure disorders, fibromyalgia, glaucoma, hepatitis C, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, HIV positive status, post-traumatic stress disorder, sickle cell anemia, spinal cord disease or injury, Tourette’s syndrome, traumatic brain injury, ulcerative colitis, and chronic and severe or persistent pain.

The next opportunity to petition the Ohio Medical Board to add new licensing requirements to the state’s medical marijuana program begins Nov. 1 and runs through Dec. 31. In order for the panel to reconsider previously rejected conditions, petitioners must submit new scientific information in support of the proposed change.

Next could be the legalization of recreational marijuana

Ohio activists are also working to legalize recreational cannabis in the state, with a proposed ballot measure likely to appear on ballots later this year. Earlier this month, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol submitted petitions for a legalization initiative to the Ohio Secretary of State’s office with more than 222,000 signatures. To qualify for November’s election, state officials must certify about 125,000 signatures, giving the group significant latitude to consider signatures that are deemed invalid.

“We are very pleased to have reached this milestone,” campaign spokesman Tom Haren said in a statement as the signatures were submitted. “This is a testament to the hard work of our campaign and the support of Ohio voters who are ready for sane marijuana reform.”

If passed, the proposed ballot initiative would legalize recreational marijuana in Ohio for adults 21 and older, who would be permitted possession of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and up to 15 grams of cannabis concentrate. The proposal also legalizes marijuana cultivation for personal use, with adults allowed to grow up to six cannabis plants. Households with more than one adult are allowed to grow a total of 12 plants.

Commercial production and sale of cannabis products would be regulated by a new state agency called the Division of Cannabis Control, which would have the power to “license adult cannabis operators, testing laboratories for adult use and individuals, regulate to investigate and punish”. Licensed.” A 10% tax would be levied on cannabis products, earmarked for administrative costs of regulation, substance abuse treatment programs, and a social justice and jobs program. Communities with licensed recreational marijuana dispensaries would also receive a share of the cannabis tax revenue. Under the proposal’s social justice program, some cannabis cultivation and dispensing licenses would be reserved for individuals from communities that have faced disproportionate enforcement of Ohio’s current marijuana laws.