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Arizona Medical Marijuana Program

Adding Debilitating Medical Conditions - Home


Medical Marijuana Registry Identification cards are now being printed with colored bars distinguishing each card type! Learn how to identify the new ID cards.

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.

Accepting Petitions for July 2013

ADHS will accept requests to add a debilitating medical condition to the list of debilitating medical conditions for the Medical Marijuana Program from July 24–31, 2013, at close of business. Requests received as indicated by its postmark prior to or after these dates will not be accepted. ADHS will also receive requests during the month of January 2014 (specific dates TBD).

January 2012 Petitions

Director's Decision July 2012

During the month of January, 2012, ADHS accepted petitions to add to the list of debilitating medical conditions. Several of these petitions were addressed at a public hearing in Phoenix on May 25, 2012. The following articles were submitted as a part of these petitions:

The following comments about each petition were received during the comments period, which expired at 5:00 p.m. on May 25, 2012:

Note: Articles and comments provided in PDF file format.

Research Conducted by University of Arizona for ADHS

The University of Arizona conducted research for ADHS on published scientific studies concerning marijuana used in the treatment of the following conditions:

Medical Advisory Committee Recommendations

Resources

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:

ADHS
P.O. Box 19000
Phoenix, AZ 85005

Each petition must include all of the following components:

  • A completed submittal cover sheet that 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.

Note: Files are PDF format unless otherwise stated.