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Regulators in Ohio have added irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to the state’s medical marijuana list of qualifying conditions. During the recent Ohio State Medical Board meeting, lawmakers made irritable bowel syndrome the 26th qualifying condition for a medical marijuana license in the state.
IBS is one of the most common chronic conditions in America, affecting an estimated 25 to 45 million people in the country and costing the U.S. a whopping $1.3 billion in medical costs annually. The chronic condition is characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, cramping, gas and bloating, and affects roughly 5% to 10% of the global population.
According to Charlie Trefny, the director of government affairs at the Ohio Medical Cannabis Industry Association, adding IBS to the Ohio list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana will “expand patient access” and help numerous Ohio residents living with the chronic condition.
Experts break irritable bowel syndrome into three categories: IBS with constipation (IBS-C), IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D) and IBS with mixed bowel habits (IBS-M).
A report from the Columbus Dispatch notes that while people with chronic IBS could already access medical cannabis because of chronic pain, the addition of IBS to the list of qualifying conditions will make medical cannabis accessible to significantly more IBS patients.
However, the board refused to add autism to the list of approved conditions for the third time. Trefny noted that she was disappointed in the board for not approving the addition of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and autism spectrum disorder.
A recent bill introduced by Senators Kirk Schuring and Stephen Huffman represented the fourth time the Ohio State Medical Board received a petition to allow people with autism to access medical cannabis. The measure would also allow medical cannabis patients to use therapeutic oral pouches, strips, sprays, pills, suppositories and capsules, topical salves, sprays and lotions as well as inhalers.
At the moment, Ohio allows patients with the following conditions to access medical cannabis: Alzheimer’s disease, AIDS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), cancer, cachexia, Crohn’s disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, epilepsy or seizure disorders, glaucoma, fibromyalgia, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis and sickle cell anemia. If Senate Bill 9 is successful, it will add autism, migraines, chronic muscle spasms or spasticity, opioid use disorder and terminal illness to the list of qualifying conditions.
Ohio also permits medical cannabis access to patients with severe intractable or chronic pain, Parkinson’s disease, spasticity, terminal illness, ulcerative colitis, Tourette syndrome and traumatic brain injuries.
As more patients use marijuana to treat or manage their ailments, entities such as IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are seeking to up the ante by developing standardized formulations from cannabis that meet the FDA regulatory requirements so that these treatments can be available nationwide through the healthcare system.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC
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