Minnesota Makes Chronic Pain a Qualifying Condition for Medical Marijuana

As of August 1^st, Minnesotans suffering from intractable pain can apply for a medical marijuana card. The addition of chronic pain to the qualifying conditions list opens the door for tens of thousands of people to obtain an alternative method for treating their pain. Both pediatric and adult patients will be accepted.

More people die each year from prescription painkiller overdoses than homicides in Minnesota, reports Star Tribune.

One chronic pain sufferer, Judy Severson, is relieved with the inclusion of her condition and the opportunity to try something different for pain management. Judy hopes to restore some of her quality of life by using medical marijuana. Severson said, “I want people to know that a 70-year-old grandma with intractable pain is doing this.”

She also said, “We take for granted the idea of meeting a friend for lunch, or ‘I have these errands to run’ or ‘Let’s go for a drive’. For me, right now, that’s not possible.”

Judy is sharing her situation and story to try to help stop the stigma surrounding medical marijuana and those that use it.

In response, she said, “I’m not alone. There are so many people suffering, and suffering much worse than I am.”

Minnesota has one of the most restrictive medical marijuana programs in the country. At last count, there were 1,827 registered and active patients statewide. The state expects that number to grow by at least 5,000 in the first year of chronic pain sufferers being included.

Some doctors still argue the validity of marijuana helping all types of pain, as studies have not been conducted for all types of pain, such as low back patient.

Dr. Steven Bergeson said, “There wasn’t really convincing evidence that it was helpful. The kinds of pain that people will be coming in asking for help with are not kinds of pain that were studied. Chronic low back, for one, wasn’t something that was studied.”

Wheelchair-bound, chronic pain and muscle spasm sufferer, Pete LePage said, regarding his use of medical marijuana, that, “I’m so happy. It’s amazing when you clear the fogginess [from the opioids]….This is a product that makes people better and happier.”