State Department of Health officials said today that they have added Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, to the list of qualifying conditions for medical cannabis use in Hawaii.
The decision was based on a rigorous review and analysis of written and oral testimony, as well as a public hearing and peer-reviewed scientific evidence, according to the department.
Of the 29 states and U.S. jurisdictions that permit medical marijuana, 19 include ALS as a qualifying health condition, health officials said. ALS is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease that mainly involves the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movements involved in chewing, walking, breathing and talking.
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