Missouri’s House has passed a medical cannabis measure that would allow individuals with terminal illness and 11 other conditions to access the program, the Columbia Missourian reports. The bill would allow access to non-smokable products, such as pills or tinctures, and provides for in-state production overseen by the state Department of Agriculture.
The qualifying conditions list includes: cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ulcerative colitis, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Patients would have to obtain a recommendation from a physician or neurologist to participate in the program. The Department of Health has the jurisdiction to add conditions to the list if it receives a petition signed by at least 10 physicians.
The measure was introduced in the chamber by Republican Rep. Jim Neely, who told his colleagues “there has to be room for compassion.”
“There are thousands of clinical trials being conducted in the United States that provide hope for terminal patients, including dozens of cannabis trials.” – Neely, on the House floor, via the Missourian
The bill passed the House 112-44 and next moves to the state Senate. Under current Missouri law, epileptic patients can access low-THC, CBD-dominant products.