Pubdate: Sat, 07 Jun 2014
Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ)
Copyright: 2014 The Arizona Republic
Contact: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/sendaletter.html
Website: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Author: Yvonne Wingett Sanchez
Page: A9
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

MEDICAL POT WEIGHED FOR TREATING PTSD

Arizona's top health official is considering whether people suffering 
from post-traumatic stress disorder should be allowed to use medical 
marijuana. Such a decision could amount to a big win for veterans and 
medical marijuana advocates.

Will Humble's consideration of the issue comes after an 
administrative law judge on Wednesday recommended that state 
officials allow those with PTSD to use medical marijuana, reversing 
Humble's earlier denial.

In the past, Humble, director of the Arizona Department of Health 
Services, has rejected allowing the disorder as a condition that 
qualifies for legal use, saying there is insufficient research on 
pot's effects on PTSD.

Since the inception of the state's medical-marijuana program, 
veterans and medical-marijuana advocates have pushed state health 
officials to allow PTSD to qualify as a condition. In the past, some 
veterans have told The Arizona Republic that the drug regimes their 
doctors have put them on are ineffective and have caused damage to organs.

Humble addressed the judge's Wednesday decision in his blog Thursday, 
writing, "I have until July 9 to either accept, reject or modify the 
recommended decision. I'll be studying the report and will make a 
decision after analyzing the Decision and Order."

Humble wrote that, last year, he denied a petition to add PTSD to the 
list of debilitating medical conditions that qualify people for an 
Arizona Medical Marijuana Registration Card. He cited the lack of 
scientific evidence on whether cannabis helps to treat PTSD.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom