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LITTLE ROCK. Ark. (KTHV) – While medical marijuana has been put to a halt here in Arkansas, some people are pushing to get more medical conditions approved for the drug.
The Arkansas Department of Health held a public meeting Monday to hear submissions about possibly adding bipolar disorder to the list.
Storm Nolan with Arkansas Cannabis Industry Association said the health department first has to weigh the risks and benefits of cannabis for bipolar disorder.
“This is important because this is the first test of the Department of Health’s willingness to add additional qualifying conditions,” he said.
He said according to the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Constitution, the health department has no reason not to move forward with bipolar disorder.
“I think when they take into account that one of the most popular treatments, Lithium, has severe long term side effect. Cannabis is a clear winner here,” Nolan said.
Robert Brech, general counsel of the health department, said getting a new condition approved could pose some problems.
“I wouldn’t want to give anybody false hope that it’s an easy thing because they’re going to really have to show that the benefits for taking medical marijuana outweigh any risk,” Brech said.
