Minnesota’s medical marijuana law is one of the most restrictive in the country, only allowing cannabis extracts in pill or liquid form for a limited number of conditions. Severe pain has been one of the most common uses of medical cannabis, likely helping medical states see a decrease in the number of patients dying from fatal prescription opioid overdoses. The decision of Minnesota’s Health Commissioner to add intractable pain as a qualifying condition could help tens of thousands of Minnesota medical patients. Hopefully, Minnesota legislators and policymakers will continue to improve the state’s medical cannabis laws, including allowing cannabis to be smoked and vaporized.
From the Star Tribune:
Health Commissioner Ed Ehlinger announced Wednesday that the state will add intractable pain to the shortlist of conditions that allow Minnesotans to legally use medical marijuana.
“The existing tools are not working well” to manage pain, said Ehlinger, a physician himself. Adding pain patients to the program was the “right and compassionate” choice.
The first pain patients will be able to legally use medical marijuana on Aug 1, 2016, barring any changes from the Legislature.
The medical cannabis program has struggled with high prices and low enrollment since its launch in July. As of Friday, it had 760 enrolled participants and opening enrollment to pain patients could bring in thousands more.
Press release from the Marijuana Policy Project praising the decision:
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, December 2, 2015Contact
Robert Capecchi
651-4923-1739, rcapecchi@mpp.orgMinnesota Commissioner of Health Adds Intractable Pain as Qualifying Condition for Medical Marijuana
Minnesota will join the majority of states with workable medical marijuana laws by allowing individuals suffering from severe and chronic pain to legally access medical marijuana if their doctors recommend it
* Statement below from the Marijuana Policy Project *
ST. PAUL — Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Ed Ehlinger announced Wednesday that intractable pain, as defined in Minnesota law, will be added to the list of qualifying conditions for which patients can legally access medical marijuana.
The commissioner must notify the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative health and public safety policy committees. Intractable pain will become a qualifying condition for medical marijuana effective August 1, 2016, unless the legislature passes a law stating otherwise.
The vast majority of the 23 states with workable medical marijuana programs allow the use of medical marijuana to treat intractable pain.
Statement from Robert Capecchi of the Marijuana Policy Project:
“This is a sensible and compassionate decision that will help a lot of Minnesotans who suffer every day from intractable pain. The commissioner heard from countless medical professionals, patients, and families from across the state about the benefits of medical marijuana for people suffering from this debilitating condition. We commend Commissioner Ehlinger and everyone else involved in taking this important step toward improving the lives of countless Minnesotans.
“Medical marijuana has been found to be an effective treatment option for people suffering from severe and chronic pain. It is oftentimes more effective than prescription painkillers, and it is undeniably far less addictive and less toxic. Recent research shows that states that allow medical marijuana for severe and chronic pain have lower rates of fatal prescription drug overdoses. The decision to add intractable pain as a qualifying condition in Minnesota will improve not only the health of individual patients, but also the community as a whole.”
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The Marijuana Policy Project is the nation’s largest marijuana policy organization. For more information, visit http://www.MarijuanaPolicy.org.
