St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) -  Minnesota’s Commissioner of Health today announced that post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, has been added to the list of qualifying conditions for the state’s medical marijuana program.

Doctor Ed Ehlinger says a total of nine conditions were considered this year as a result of petitions submitted by Minnesotans interested in utilizing medical cannabis. He says the review process was difficult due to the relative lack of published scientific evidence, and PTSD presented the strongest case for potential benefits. Doctor Ehlinger also noted PTSD also has few effective treatment alternatives available for some patients.

The other conditions considered this year included, schizophrenia, phantom limb syndrome, arthritis, autism, depression, diabetes, a connective tissue disorder known as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and insomnia.

The Health Department was also petitioned to consider allowing new delivery methods for medicinal marijuana, including topical applications, edible products, and vaporizing the whole plant. Doctor Ehlinger says the state’s licensed manufacturers have been given the “green light” to develop topical formulations that could be used for patches, lotions, creams, gels and ointments to deliver safe dosages of the drug to qualified patients.

Qualified patients with PTSD will be able to obtain medical marijuana products from authorized vendors starting next August 1st.

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