News

POSTED: January 18th, 2019
POSTED IN: Forum Topic, Legislative, News,

Missouri voters approved Constitutional Amendment 2 on November 6, 2018, one of three ballot questions that allow for the use of marijuana for medical purposes. The other two ballot questions did not pass.

* The effective date of Amendment 2 is December 6, 2018, but the practical effects of the Amendment will take some time to come to fruition.

* The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is the state agency charged with effectuating the Amendment.

* By June 6, 2019, the Department of Health and Senior Services must have application forms available for individuals who wish to become “qualifying patients”

* DHSS must begin accepting these applications by July 6, 2019

* The application for a qualifying patient must be accompanied by a physician certification that is less than 30 days old.

* A “qualifying patient” must have a condition or symptom of, or side effect related to the treatment of:
* cancer
* epilepsy
* glaucoma
* intractable migraines unresponsive to other treatment
* a chronic medical condition that causes severe, persistent pain or persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to those associated with multiple sclerosis, seizures, Parkinson’s disease, and Tourette’s syndrome
* rehabilitating psychiatric disorders, including but not limited to, post-traumatic stress disorder, if diagnosed by a state-licensed psychiatrist
* human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome
* a chronic medical condition that is normally treated with a prescription medication that could lead to physical or psychological dependence, which a physician determines that medical use of marijuana could be effective in treating that condition and would serve as a safer alternative to the prescription medication
* any terminal illness
* in the professional judgment of a physician, and other chronic, debilitating or other medical condition, including but not limited to, hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, Huntington’s disease, autism, neuropathies, sickle cell anemia, agitation of Alzheimer’s disease, cachexia, and wasting syndrome.

* A “physician certification” is a written or electronic document signed by a physician that states that in the physician’s professional opinion, the patient suffers from a qualifying medical condition from the above list.