Advisory Panel Endorses Use Of Medical Pot To Treat PTSD, Not Diabetes
(CBS) -- An advisory board is recommending a few more illnesses that should be allowed to be treated with medical marijuana, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.
The advisory panel made up of doctors, nurses, patients and a pharmacist is recommending that post-traumatic stress disorder, migraines and irritable bowel syndrome be added to the list of conditions that qualify for medical marijuana treatment.
Iraq war veteran and counselor Dan Jabs was pushing for that.
"I think it is about time that we start treating veterans as the heroes that they are rather than criminals because they turn to cannabis as a way to relieve those symptoms," Jabs said.
The panel said no to those with diabetes, though type 1 diabetic Tom Lee said marijuana eased his pain.
"I didn't want to keep secrets, but I had to because it was illegal and I finally found something that helped me relieve my pain but to continue doing so I would be breaking the law," Lee said.
The recommendations go to the Illinois Department of Public Health.