Friday afternoon we’re holding a public comment session about whether or not to add four new debilitating conditions to the medical marijuana program.  The comments should center on scientific studies done on how marijuana affects Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Migraines, Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.  We’re looking for peer-reviewed, published studies that show the benefit or the danger of marijuana specific to these four conditions.

For almost a month, folks have been commenting on line about the petitions to add conditions.  More than 80 people have provided input so far.  At the hearing on Friday, speakers will have two minutes to address one of the conditions.  (The hearing will be broken into two segments – the first is to hear about the PTSD studies and runs from 1 until 2:30.  The second half from 2:30 until 4 is for the other three.)   We’ll open the doors at 12:55. 

We’re also streaming the audio from the session on our website for people that can’t make it to Health Services (we’re having technical difficulties with the video- but that might work too by then).  Anybody can use the online comment tool to provide input to the final decision.  There’ll be a room at ADHS to listen to the live stream of comments in our 1740 W. Adams, Phoenix, AZ 85007 building in case the meeting room is over capacity.  The time will be the same as the public comment session – 12:55 – 4 p.m.

Changing anything the voters have created comes with a heavy responsibility – one we take seriously.  We’ll listen to the folks who come to ADHS and read the written comments before we make any decisions about adding new conditions.  The decisions will likely come in July.