Ohio Committee drops support for approving marijuana to treat autism, anxiety

A committee of experts has rescinded its recommendation to approve medical marijuana to treat autism and anxiety in Ohio.

The expert review committee of the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program had voted last fall to recommend that the State Medical Board of Ohio approve marijuana to treat those conditions, but it reversed course after hearing from a panel of experts Wednesday.

Two experts testified in favor of marijuana’s use, and four experts against it. In Ohio, marijuana is approved to treat 21 medical conditions, including chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The committee decided that research on the use of marijuana to treat autism and anxiety is inconclusive.

“At this point, approval seems premature,” said medical board President Michael Schottenstein, who is also a member of the review committee. “There should be a consensus, and it’s clear that we don’t have that.”

Committee member Robert Giacalone also opposed the recommendation. “There is, at best, anecdotal evidence on the other side,” he said.

Once a condition is on the list of 21 qualifying conditions, it cannot be removed, Schottenstein said. The board can add the condition later if more compelling evidence emerges, he said. [Read more at The Columbus Dispatch]