Connecticut lawmakers on Tuesday voted to add several new conditions to the state’s medical marijuana program.
The General Assembly’s Regulations Review Committee approved adding five new conditions for adults, such as tourette syndrome, and two conditions for patients under 18 years old.
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP), which oversees the state’s medical pot program, will submit the regulations to the Secretary of the State’s Office, who will finalize the regulations by posting them online.
There are now 36 conditions approved for adults and 10 for patients under age 18.
Meantime, there are currently 37,373 patients in the medical marijuana program, 1,190 certifying physicians, 15 dispensary facilities and four producers in Connecticut, according to DCP. Hartford, New Haven and Fairfield counties, respectively, have the most registered patients. Another three dispensaries have been approved by DCP and are set to open by year-end.
“I am pleased that more patients with severe debilitating conditions will now have medical marijuana as an option for treatment,” said DCP Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull.
The following conditions were approved Tuesday:
- Interstitial cystitis, a chronic bladder pain syndrome (recommended for adults);
- Intractable neuropathic pain that is unresponsive to standard medical treatments (for adults and patients under 18);
- Medial arcuate ligament syndrome, which causes severe abdominal pain (for adults);
- Tourette syndrome (for adults, and recommended as “tourette syndrome for patients who have failed standard medical treatment” for patients under 18); and
- Vulvodynia and vulvar burning, which causes pain in female genitalia (for adults).
