The State board for Ohio’s medical marijuana industry has rejected both autism and anxiety as treatable conditions.
Ohio’s list of medical marijuana conditions grew by one on Wednesday but it was for cachexia. The Ohio State Medical Board approved adding cachexia, a wasting syndrome marked by severe weight loss, to the 21 conditions for which patients can treat with medical marijuana if recommended by a physician.
This is the first time a new condition has been added since the law was passed in 2016 and the decision took effect immediately.
“Eating is a source of enjoyment for patients and its a means to socialize with family and friends,” board president Dr. Michael Schottenstein said before the board voted via videoconference. “Patients socially isolate when they can’t eat.”
According to Schottenstein, medical marijuana is less potent and less expensive than dronabinol which has been used to treat Cachexia. It is a synethic form of cannabis compound THC.
The board’s votes were near unanimous; member Michael Gonidakis, a lobbyist, abstained because he has cannabis clients.
The board will accept the next round of petitions for new conditions Nov. 1.
