Summary: Minnesota has joined the list of states that allow marijuana use for medical reason, although their criteria are one of the strictest in the nation.
Moments after medical marijuana was legal at midnight today in Minnesota, the first cannabis clinic had its first patient. The clinic, Minnesota Medical Solutions, in downtown Minneapolis opened just after midnight on July 1st.
The first patient, Kim Kelsey, left the clinic with a week-long supply of cannabis pills for her 24-year-old son. They are hoping the treatment will help with his epilepsy. The clinic closed after two hours at 2 a.m. but reopened at 9 a.m. There were dozens of appointments already made for their regular office hours.
Medical marijuana in Minnesota is one of the most closely regulated and most clinical in the country. Cannabis will only be sold in the form of pills, liquid, or oils, not as a smokable substance. This will enable manufacturers to better customize doses to the specific conditions that each patient and their needs require. Patients must have one of nine qualifying conditions to qualify: epilepsy, glaucoma, Chron’s disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS, Tourette syndrome, ALS, Multiple Sclerosis, or a terminal illness.
As of last Friday, only 65 patients were enrolled in the program with many more looking for a doctor to certify them. The state’s second clinic in Eagan opened this morning at 10 a.m. but was not able to provide treatment for all conditions. Leafline Labs runs the clinic and has not perfected their epilepsy treatment yet.
Source: http://www.startribune.com/medical-marijuana-is-now-legal-in-minnesota/311143971/
Photo: wikipedia.org