ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota veterans and other residents suffering post-traumatic stress disorder will be allowed to use medical marijuana starting in August, the state's Department of Health announced Thursday as it expanded the slim list of conditions that qualify for the program.
The expansion could have been larger because the state reviewed eight other potential additions submitted through public petitions, including autism spectrum disorders, arthritis and depression. But Department of Health Commissioner Ed Ehlinger said there wasn't enough evidence surrounding marijuana's effectiveness in treating those other conditions, and a lack of effective medication for post-traumatic stress disorder made it an alluring addition to the state's year-old program.
"PTSD was the only one that really came close to meeting my threshold," he said. "There's widespread agreement among medical experts on the need for improving existing PTSD treatments."
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The expansion could have been larger because the state reviewed eight other potential additions submitted through public petitions, including autism spectrum disorders, arthritis and depression. But Department of Health Commissioner Ed Ehlinger said there wasn't enough evidence surrounding marijuana's effectiveness in treating those other conditions, and a lack of effective medication for post-traumatic stress disorder made it an alluring addition to the state's year-old program.
"PTSD was the only one that really came close to meeting my threshold," he said. "There's widespread agreement among medical experts on the need for improving existing PTSD treatments."
Read more
