MEDICAL POT PROGRAM TO COVER MORE CONDITIONS

The state Department of Health is adding seven conditions to coverage
under the state's medical marijuana program.

Patients can apply if they have painful peripheral neuropathy,
intractable nausea or vomiting, severe anorexia/cachexia, hepatitis C
infection if also receiving antiviral treatment, Crohn's disease,
post-traumatic stress disorder and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,
better known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Health Secretary Dr. Alfredo Vigil said Monday that the conditions
were added based on recommendations of the department's Medical
Advisory Board and scientific findings that the conditions could be
helped by medical cannabis.

The board recommended adding eight conditions, but Vigil turned down
fibromyalgia, saying there wasn't enough evidence that medical
marijuana is effective for it.