Medical Marijuana Law Update

Petitions to be Accepted by ADHS for Additional Qualifying Debilitating Medical Conditions for AZ Medical Marijuana Use

March 30, 2011 News Post Article by: James Novak, Phoenix DUI and Criminal Defense Attorney Don’t fret if you have a qualifying debilitating medical condition not initially included on the list. The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) plans to accept petitions beginning January, 2012, for additional debilitating medical conditions to be considered as qualifying for use of prescription medical marijuana in Arizona. This is good news to many who feel they needed to use medical marijuana for relief of their symptoms, but their conditions did not initially qualify under the AZ medical marijuana law.

According to the AZ Medical Marijuana Rules patients suffering from the following medical conditions were considered to initially qualify (Cited in part):

• Cancer

• Glaucoma

• HIV

• AIDS

• Hepatitis C

• ALS

• Crohn’s disease

• Alzheimer’s disease Also there are certain symptoms that qualify, even though they may not be the result of a qualifying condition listed above.

A “chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition” is defined as one that causes the following symptoms below. (Cited in part):

• Cachexia or wasting syndrome;

• Severe and chronic pain;

• Severe nausea;

• Seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy;

• Severe or persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis

The ADHS will accept written requests to add medical conditions and chronic or debilitating symptoms of a condition to the current list. This opportunity will take place twice each calendar year, in January and July. There will be certain requirements and documentation needed by the ADHS in order to consider adding a new qualifying medical condition. Those requirements and documentation are outlined in detail, but reader friendly, at the ADHS official website in the Question and Answers section.

Article Source: Official ADHS Website: http://www.azdhs.gov/prop203/calendar.htm . This article has been posted for general public informational purposes only. All articles by this author are intended to raise awareness and generate discussion on a variety of Arizona State Law issues and topics.

If you have been arrested in Maricopa County for AZ DUI other criminal charges contact the Law Office of James Novak, for your Free Consultation at (480) 413-1499. Speak directly with experienced Arizona criminal Defense and DUI Defense Attorney and James Novak (Former Prosecutor). The Law Office of James Novak is devoted 100% to defending DUI, Drug & criminal charges in valley wide within Maricopa County including Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler, Tempe, Gilbert Arizona, East Valley, AZ and surrounding cities in Phoenix metro area.