Connecticut Adds New Qualifying Condition for Medical Cannabis
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]T[/dropcap]he Connecticut General Assembly’s Regulations Review Committee recently approved the use of medical cannabis for patients who suffer from chronic neuropathic pain associated with degenerative spinal disorders.
Thirty-one conditions are now covered under the state’s medical cannabis regulation for those 18 and older, including migraines, rheumatoid arthritis, shingles, post-traumatic stress disorder and Crohn’s disease. Eight conditions have already been approved for patients under 18 years of age, which includes severe epilepsy, cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy.
The Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) controls the petitions for conditions to be added to the state, which can be filed by Connecticut citizens electronically or by letter. The department created a Board of Physicians who are “board-certified in one of the following specialties: neurology, pain medicine, pain management, medical oncology, psychiatry, infectious disease, family medicine or gynecology” according to the website.
“It’s always been important to us at DCP to make sure that patients get access to the medication they need as quickly as possible,” said Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull.
“These updates to the regulations mean that more patients with severe debilitating conditions will have additional options for medical treatment. I want to thank the members of the Board of Physicians for their thoughtful deliberation, and the members of the Regulations Review Committee for meeting with us quickly, and approving these changes to our regulations.”
Connecticut has over 29,500 medical cannabis patients and 1,000 certifying medical professionals.
The next step is for the Secretary of State to post the new regulations online, at which time the proposed change would be final. The state committee also updated state regulations to reflect the FDA approval of the cannabis-based medication Epidiolex, which was categorized as a Schedule V substance and is intended to treat some severe seizure disorders.
