Michigan approves medical marijuana for cerebral palsy

Even if voters choose to legalize marijuana for recreational use, employers can still fire or decline to hire someone who tests positive. Kathleen Gray, Detroit Free Press Lansing Bureau

The use of medical marijuana will beextended to people afflicted with cerebral palsy, according to the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

The condition joins more than two dozen ailments the state has certified as qualifying for a medical marijuana card, ranging from cancer to glaucoma,AIDS and chronic pain.

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that is caused by an injury that occurs during a childs brain development. Symptoms of the condition include loss of motor function and control, and cannabis has been cited as helping with pain relief and reduction of seizures and spastic movements. Approximately 764,000 people in the United States have cerebral palsy, according to the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation. Of those people, about 500,000 are under the age of 18.

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While cerebral palsy is in for medical marijuana, the licensing department denied Chronic Aggressive Behavior as a qualifying condition.

Michigan voters approved legalizing marijuana for medical use in 2008. Since then, the Medical Marijuana Review Panel has taken testimony on dozens of conditions that would qualify a person for a medical marijuana card. Currently in Michigan, there are more than 294,000 cardholders.

A medical marijuana cardholder can be any age and many young people with conditionssuch as epilepsy or other seizure disorders have been using marijuana to control their seizures. The Food and Drug Administrationeven approved a cannabis-based medication last year Epidolex to help control a severe form of epilepsy.

In November, voters approved a ballot proposal legalizing marijuana for adult recreational use, but only for people who are at least 21.Medical marijuana will still be available for consumers of any age, but anyone who is under 18must have approval from two doctors and parent or guardian.

Kathleen Gray covers the marijuana industry for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her: 313-223-4430, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal.

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Michigan approves medical marijuana for cerebral palsy