More diseases could be added to medical marijuana





Associated Press - April 14, 2009 12:05 PM ET

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - A medical advisory board is recommending more chronic conditions to the list of patients who can use medical marijuana.

The state already allows its use for pain and other symptoms from 14 debilitating illnesses such as cancer, glaucoma, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's disease, HIV-AIDS and certain spinal cord injuries.

The state Department of Health added 7 of those conditions in February.

The program provides protection from state prosecution for approved patients.

It has 284 patients so far.

Now the advisory board is recommending eight more conditions - chronic muscle inflammation accompanied by muscle weakness, severe osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis, post-polio syndrome, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's and severe chronic pain.



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