Minnesota Study Finds That Most Patients See Benefits from Marijuana

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reports good news regarding medical marijuana. After the program’s first year, MDH conducted a study.

The results shared from most patients shows they achieved positive results, according to Inquisitr. Dr. Ed Ehlinger says the medical marijuana program “has been offering substantial benefits.”

Dr. Ehlinger said, “Based on this evidence from the first year, Minnesota’s approach is providing many people with substantial benefits, minimal side effects and no serious adverse events.”

Based on a scale of 1 to 7 (7 being the highest), about 64-percent of those surveyed rated their benefit at a 6 or 7. A third of patients reported meaningful reductions in symptoms. Reductions in symptoms included fewer seizures, reduced muscle spasms, relief of Crohn’s disease and Tourette’s syndrome symptoms.

The MDH said, “These year-one findings are consistent with what MDH found after the program’s first three months. MDH has posted the study’s executive summary at its medical cannabis data and statistics page. The summary includes information about first-year enrollment, cannabis purchasing patterns, cannabis use patterns, adverse effects and affordability. The complete study is scheduled to be released this summer.”

Only about 20-percent of patients surveyed reported any adverse side effects, with none being life-threatening.

MDH said, “The harms reported were not life-threatening, though four patients (2-percent) reported an increase in seizures. Other side effects mirrored those reported in clinical trials of medical cannabis conducted outside of Minnesota, including dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, feeling high, sleepiness, stomach pains, burning sensation in the mouth and paranoia.”

Cancer, seizures and muscle spasms are the most common conditions for medical marijuana patients in Minnesota. In the state’s preliminary research, cancer patients reportedly experienced the most relief. PTSD will be added to the state’s qualifying conditions list this summer.