Medical marijuana condition list could expand

Posted on May 3, 2016
medical marijuana
Illinois has nearly 40 ailments which are covered under the medial marijuana pilot program. (Photo by Dank Depot/flickr)

By FarmWeekNow/WFMB

SPRINGFIELD – It’s another recommendation to expand the state’s medical marijuana program, but will it likely be another effort snuffed out by Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration.

The Medical Cannabis Advisory Board on Monday added two recommended illness or conditions to a previous list of 10 conditions that should make a patient eligible for a medical marijuana card. This week the panel acted by adding type 1 diabetes and panic disorder. That’s in addition to the previous recommendations including post traumatic stress disorder and autism.

The board and others aren’t hopeful any changes will come to the pilot program – the board’s suggestions are routinely turned down in the final approval process. The Illinois Department of Public Health has the final say so over what conditions are added. Right now the program recognizes fewer than 40 ailments.

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