After a successfully petitioning for the addition of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a qualifying condition in 2016 and Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2017, Sensible Minnesota has submitted four petitions for the 2018 petitioning cycle: Opioid Use Disorder, Alzheimer’s Disease, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Hepatitis C.

“All of these conditions merit consideration from Commissioner Malcolm, but I’m most hopeful that Minnesota will follow in the footsteps of New York and Pennsylvania to add Opioid Use Disorder as a qualifying condition,” said Maren Schroeder, Sensible Minnesota’s President. “We know medical cannabis isn’t going to solve the opioid crisis, but we’re confident that it is a tool that will decrease opioid use as shown by Minnesota’s own data.”

The petitions focus on both symptomological relief and the physiological benefit potential of medicinal cannabis. “Cannabis is a multifaceted tool offering patients viable options in harm reduction, such as promoting addiction cessation, adherence to treatment plans, and providing a safe alternative for relief of chronic side effects and symptomology,” according to Jared Poe of Sensible Minnesota.

Once the petitions are received by the Office of Medical Cannabis, they will be available online here: http://www.health.state.mn.us/topics/cannabis/rulemaking/addconditions.html. A Review Panel will evaluate the petitions, as well as take public testimony; written comments will also be accepted by the Office of Medical Cannabis. Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm will then receive a report from the Review Panel, and decide on expansions by December 1, 2018.

The petioning team was led by Sensible Minnesota’s Jared Poe, with help from volunteers: Gunnar Aas, Grace Liu, Dr. Gretchen Moen, Bonnie Padilla, and Amber Cotton.

Sensible Minnesota is a 501(c)3 non-profit with a mission to educate the public on the uses, benefits, and relative safety of cannabis; to support persons harmed by prohibition; and to advocate for sensible policy changes. You can learn more about the organization by visiting www.sensible.mn.

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Press Contact:        Jared Poe,  [email protected]