The Connecticut Board of Physicians has replaced two conditions recommended for medical marijuana treatment with broader labels, a step that requires legislative approval.
On Friday, instead of adding three conditions as recommended in June, the board decided to replace “intractable migraines” with “intractable headache syndromes.” It also replaced “trigeminal neuralgia” with “neuropathic facial pain.” Both of these conditions are being added only for patients over the age of 18.
In June, state Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull had endorsed recommendations to add intractable migraines, hydrocephalus with intractable headaches, and trigeminal neuralgia.
But on Friday, the board said the changes would allow physicians to treat medical marijuana patients more effectively, and avoid redundancy in the program’s conditions.
After DCP drafts a regulation making the changes, there will be an additional public hearing and comment period. The state attorney general would review it, and the legislature’s regulation review committee has final say on approving it.
There are currently 19,124 medical marijuana patients, 724 certifying physicians registered with the state’s program, and 22 conditions that qualify adult patients for medical marijuana.
