The Minnesota Department of Health has expanded medical cannabis access in the state by adding obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to the program’s list of qualifying conditions, the Star Tribune reports.
“Research has shown that people who suffer from these conditions can see benefits from using medical cannabis to treat their symptoms.” — Minnesota Department of Health, in a statement
Minnesota‘s medical cannabis program was launched with just nine qualifying conditions but today, there are 19 conditions that qualify patients for access to the program; the additions of OCD and IBS next August will raise that total to 21. Regulators opted against adding opioid use disorder and gastroparesis, a stomach- and digestion-related condition, to the list of qualifying conditions.
Most Minnesotans have had the ability to self-medicate with cannabis since July 1, when the state legalized THC-infused gummies and similar products for adults aged 21 and older. But that hasn’t slowed participation in the state medical cannabis program: more than 39,000 patients are actively enrolled in the program, the report said, up from 29,000 in 2021.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) said earlier this month he believes the state was poised to pass full legalization reforms as soon as the next session after Democrats took control of the state Legislature.
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