Medical marijuana access grows
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State regulators have expanded the list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana, but industry advocates are still fighting for more, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Why it matters: The State Medical Board has full authority over who is able to legally access medical marijuana.
State of play: Residents are required to have a certified physician's confirmation that they have a qualifying medical conditions under the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program.
- The number of qualifying conditions continues to grow — it’s now 26 — as residents annually petition the State Medical Board to expand the list.
- The approval process, which is relatively obscure, earned some chuckles in 2020 when the board rejected a joking submission for Browns and Bengals fandom to be included.
Driving the news: Last week the board approved irritable bowel syndrome as a qualifying condition, but voted against ASD and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- It's the fourth time ASD has been rejected, per the Ohio Medical Cannabis Industry Association (OMCIA).
Zoom in: The association, which lobbies state lawmakers and regulators on behalf of marijuana cultivators, processors and dispensaries, disagrees with the board's decision.
- A stalled Republican bill to overhaul the medical marijuana program also proposed adding ASD and several other qualifying conditions to the list.
What they're saying: OMCIA believes there's a medical case for adding ASD, director of government affairs Charlie Trefny tells Axios, but the organization more generally supports expanding eligibility for all conditions.
- Ohioans deserve the "freedom of choice" to access medical marijuana, Trefny says.
The other side: The efficacy of medical marijuana as treatment for those with ASD is disputed.
- Nationwide Children's Hospital and the Ohio Psychiatric Physicians Association oppose it, as well as numerous witnesses at a hearing on the bill who contend there is insufficient evidence to support its use.
The intrigue: The issue may be moot if recreational marijuana is legalized in Ohio.
- Organizers recently submitted signatures to place a proposed law on the November ballot to allow adults to buy, possess and grow cannabis for adults, the Dispatch reports.
- Nearly half of states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana usage, per the National Conference of State Legislatures.
What we're watching: OMCIA plans to keep trying to get ASD and other conditions added to the medical marijuana list.