Ohio could be 1st state to allow medical marijuana for depression, insomnia

More than half of Ohio’s population could become eligible in June for a medical marijuana card if the state approves five more ailments as qualifying conditions.

Among the proposed additions: depression and insomnia, which affect hundreds of thousands of Ohioans.

Since January, an advisory committee for the State Medical Board of Ohio has studied the five ailments and whether medical marijuana could help. The three other conditions under consideration are anxiety, autism spectrum disorder and opioid use disorder, the formal term that the medical board uses for opioid addiction.

Tiffany Carwile of Bryan, Ohio, has a 5-year-old son with autism. She is the Ohio chapter director of Mothers Advocating Medical Marijuana for Autism. Last autumn, when the state opened a window for residents to suggest conditions to add as qualifiers, Carwile prepared a 500-page document supporting medical marijuana for autism.

“Medical marijuana is not a cure for autism. I’m not saying this is going to cure my son. But I know it’s going to dramatically improve his quality of life,” Carwile said. “If some day he can say, ‘I love you, Mom,’ I will be the happiest person in the world.” [Read more at The Cincinnati Enquirer]