Who’s prescribed medical marijuana

Two proposals to legalize medical marijuana – one is an initiated act, the other an amendment to the Arkansas Constitution – have the potential to be approved by voters during the Nov. 8 general election. On Monday, Rep. Dan Douglas, R-Bentonville, who opposes Issues 6 and 7, promised legislation legalizing smokeless, low-THC strains of cannabis to treat certain conditions if voters reject both ballot measures. The three plans to offer medical marijuana differ in how the drug would be administered and who it could be prescribed to.

Arkansas Compassionate Use Act of 2017 (draft legislation): 10 conditions, limited to: cancer; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease or ALS); epilepsy or seizures related to head trauma; multiple sclerosis; Crohn’s disease; mitochondrial disease, Parkinson’s disease and sickle-cell disease.

Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment (Issue 6): At least 12 conditions, including cancer; glaucoma; HIV/AIDS; hepatitis C; ALS; Tourette’s syndrome; Crohn’s disease; ulcerative colitis; post-traumatic stress disorder; severe arthritis; fibromyalgia; Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions that casue peripheral neuropathy, “intractable pain,” and severe nausea and/or seizures.*

Arkansas Medical Cannabis Act (Issue 7): At least 55 conditions, including autism; emphysema; restless leg syndrome; anorexia and bulimia; asthma; insomnia; migraines; nail-patella syndrome; ADD/ADHD and other chronic conditions that cause “intractable pain,” severe nausea and/or seizures.*

*Both Issues 6 and 7 allow the Department of Health to add more conditions to the list through which patients can be prescribed medical marijuana.