MDH Approves Expanding Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Program

(KNSI) – Medical marijuana patients in Minnesota will have a new way to take their medicine. On Wednesday, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced that it will approve infused edibles such as gummies and chews starting August 1st, 2022.

“Expanding delivery methods to gummies and chews will mean more options for patients who cannot tolerate current available forms of medical cannabis,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm.

The MDH says a rulemaking process outlining labeling, safety messaging, packaging, and testing requirements will begin this month.

As of now, medical marijuana patients can use pills, vapor oil, liquids, topicals, powdered mixtures, and orally dissolvable products, like lozenges.

Starting in March 2022, registered medical cannabis patients will be allowed to use smokable marijuana after a bill got passed into law by the 2021 Minnesota Legislature. The rulemaking process for smokable marijuana is underway.

No new conditions for medical cannabis were added this year. Each year the MDH Commissioner considers whether to add medical conditions and delivery methods for medical marijuana.

When the Minnesota Legislature authorized creating the state’s medical cannabis program, the law included nine conditions that qualified a patient to receive medical cannabis. Since then, the list of conditions has grown to 17.

Cancer
Glaucoma
HIV/AIDS
Tourette syndrome
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease
Seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy
Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis (MS)
Terminal illness with a probable life expectancy of less than one year
Intractable pain
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Autism spectrum disorder (must meet DSM-5)
Obstructive sleep apnea (PDF)
Alzheimer’s disease
Chronic pain
Sickle cell disease
Chronic motor or vocal tic disorder