Public Comment Period for adding to the list of debilitating medical conditions

ADHS accepts petitions to add a debilitating medical condition to the list of debilitating medical conditions for the Medical Marijuana Program in January and July of each year.

Public Comment Period for January 2012 Petitions

During the month of January 2012, ADHS accepted petitions to add to the list of debilitating medical conditions. Several of these petitions will move forward to a public hearing.

The Department has scheduled the following public hearing:

Date: May 25, 2012
Location: 250 N. 17th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Times: 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
2:30 to 4:00 p.m. Depression, Migraines, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder

The following articles have been submitted as a part of these petitions:

• PTSD 1
• PTSD 2
• Depression
• Migraines
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder

If you would like to make a comment(s) regarding these petitions, please Take Our Survey.

ADHS will accept comments on these petitions until 5:00 p.m. on May 25, 2012.

Resources

• Rules for Adding a Debilitating Condition (A.A.C. R9-17-106)
• Rules for the Arizona Medical Marijuana Program
• The National Libraries of Medicine Catalog can provide examples and a list of acceptable, peer reviewed scientific journals.
• Fact Sheet and Submittal Cover Sheet for Adding a Debilitating Condition

How to Submit a Petition

ADHS accepts petitions to add debilitating conditions in January and July of each year (specific dates will be announced ahead of time).

ADHS will accept the petition via U.S. mail only, to:

Each petition must include all of the following components:

• A completed submittal cover sheetthat includes:
  • The entity’s name, mailing address, name of contact individual, telephone number, and email address
  • The name of the medical condition the entity is requesting be added
• A description of the symptoms and other physiological effects experienced by an individual suffering from the medical condition or a treatment of the medical condition that may impair the ability of the individual to accomplish activities of daily living;
• The availability of conventional medical treatments to provide therapeutic or palliative benefit for the medical condition or a treatment of the medical condition;
• A summary of the evidence that the use of marijuana will provide therapeutic or palliative benefit for the medical condition or a treatment of the medical condition; and
• Articles, published in peer-reviewed, scientific journals, reporting the results of research on the effects of marijuana on the medical condition or a treatment of the medical condition supporting why the medical condition should be added.
  • The full article must be submitted (no abstracts).

Upon submittal, ADHS will notify the requester within 30 days that the petition was received. An initial review will be conducted to determine if the information provided in the petition provides evidence that:

• The specified medical condition or treatment of the medical condition impairs the ability of the individual to accomplish activities of daily living; and
• Marijuana usage provides a therapeutic or palliative benefit to an individual suffering from the medical condition or treatment of the medical condition.

If the information provided meets the requirements above, ADHS will schedule a public hearing to discuss the petition and provide a date for the hearing. If the information provided does not meet the requirements above, ADHS will provide written notice to the requestor of ADHS’ decision to deny the petition. The written notice will include specific reasons for the denial and the process for requesting judicial review.

During the review process, ADHS will partner with the University of Arizona, Colleges of Public Health and Medicine (University) to review the petitions. The University will provide ADHS with valuable support, including further research of each condition or treatment and summary reports with recommendations by accessing its extensive public health and medical expertise.

Within 180 days after the original petition submission, ADHS will either add the medical condition to the list of debilitating medical conditions or provide written notice to the requester of ADHS’ decision to deny the petition. The written notice will include specific reasons for the denial and the process for requesting judicial review.