(Santa Fe) – Department of Health Secretary Retta Ward announced that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) will remain a qualifying condition to become a patient in New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program.
In November, the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board heard a petition to remove PTSD as a qualifying condition for New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program. The petition was submitted by a psychiatrist. The Advisory Board voted unanimously to recommend that the Department of Health reject the petition to rescind PTSD as a condition.
“There is insufficient medical and scientific evidence in the petition to move forward with the removal of PTSD as a qualifying condition,” said Department of Health Secretary Retta Ward, MPH.
Department of Health regulation 7.34.3.8(C) NMAC requires that before a Department-approved condition may be removed, the Department Secretary must determine, on the basis of substantial credible medical and scientific evidence, that the use of cannabis by patients who have the approved condition would more likely than not result in substantial harm to the patients’ health.
Pursuant to medical cannabis regulations, and in accordance with the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act and the Department of Health Act, the Secretary of Health renders final decisions concerning whether to add or remove medical conditions to the list of conditions approved for participation in the medical cannabis program.
In 2009, PTSD was added as one of the qualifying conditions of the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act. As of March 30, 2013 there are 8894 patients in the program; approximately 3,700 patients are qualified to participate in the medical cannabis program on the basis of PTSD.
For more information about the Medical Cannabis Program, go online to:
