Connecticut's medical marijuana program is expanding. Beginning next month, minors with select, severe debilitating medical conditions will have access to medical marijuana. The state Department of Consumer Protection opened the registration system today for those patients, so they can be fully registered when the new law takes effect.
The legal guardian for the patient must have the pediatric patient’s primary care provider and a physician who is board certified in an area of medicine involved in the treatment of the debilitating condition, certify that the patient has one of the qualifying conditions and that the use of medical marijuana is in the patient’s best interest. The guardian must also register, complete the patient appliaction and select a licensed in-state dispensary facility to obtain the medication.
The conditions that a patient under 18 must have to register for the program are:
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Irreversible Spinal Cord Injury with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity
- Severe Epilepsy
- Terminal Illness Requiring End-Of-Life Care
- Uncontrolled Intractable Seizure Disorder
Patients under 18 are not able to obtain their medication in a smoke-able, inhalable or vaporizable form.
The Department says Connecticut’s Medical Marijuana Program is the first pharmaceutical model in the country, and is one of the most secure. The Program has over 12,400 registered patients. There are eight licensed dispensaries in the state, including one in Bethel.
