Cannabis Advisory Board recommends adding qualifying ailments

[TexasTowelie]

The New Mexico Medical Cannabis Advisory Board voted Friday to recommend that the state Department of Health add six conditions to the list of ailments that qualify patients to enroll in the medical marijuana program, and to recommend that the department increase the amount and strength of cannabis a patient can possess.

The disorders the board approved include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, anxiety, depression, chronic headaches, including migraines, sleep disorder and dystonia, a neurological condition that causes muscle spasms, tremors and other problems with movement.

But when or if those changes will take effect is anyone’s guess.

Health Secretary Lynn Gallagher, who has the final word on changes to the state Medical Cannabis Program, still hasn’t decided whether to accept new conditions the board recommended in November — including Alzheimer’s disease and opiate use disorder. There are now 20 qualifying conditions on the program’s list.

Advisory board members expressed frustration Friday over Gallagher’s lack of urgency in reviewing and ruling on proposed program changes.

Read more: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/health_and_science/cannabis-advisory-board-recommends-adding-qualifying-ailments/article_99ffb468-a82d-5363-bbf8-b540521edf86.html