Law makes it easier for minors with disabling conditions to be added to Colorado’s medical marijuana registry.
By Kieran NicholsonA bill allowing Coloradans with autism to use medical marijuana was signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Jared Polis.
The new law — HB19-1028 — adds autism to the list of disabling medical conditions that allow a person to legally use medical marijuana, according to the bill.
The bill, sponsored by state Reps. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder, and Kim Ransom, R-Littleton, passed through the house on Feb. 7 without a single “no” vote; it passed through the Senate on March 20 by a vote of 31-4. Earlier, the bill passed the health committee by a 10-1 vote.
Under the law, “autism spectrum disorder” must be “diagnosed by a primary care physician, physician with experience in autism spectrum disorder or licensed mental health provider.”
Patients under the age of 18 will need two doctors to sign off on the “disabling medical condition.”
Last year, a similar bill passed but was vetoed by then-Gov. John Hickenlooper, who cited concerns from medical professionals. After vetoing the 2018 bill, Hickenlooper commissioned a study on medical marijuana on autism, which was funded by marijuana tax dollars.
About one in 59 children, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics, are diagnosed with autism.
No comments:
Post a Comment