Marijuana Use OK'd For Crohn's

Crohn's disease has been added to the list of conditions approved for treatment with marijuana in Washington.

Patients suffering from the disease, which attacks the bowels and can cause abdominal pain, nausea and weight loss, must have a doctor's permission to use the drug.

A panel of the state Medical Quality Assurance Commission voted Friday to include Crohn's disease with cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, glaucoma and other medical conditions approved for treatment with marijuana. The conditions are characterized by "intractable pain" that cannot be relieved by standard medical treatment.

Panel members noted a lack of research findings on marijuana to treat pain, but gave their approval based on anecdotal evidence, commission Executive Director Bonnie King said.

"These are traditionally trained physicians who would certainly never prescribe marijuana themselves, but they have tried to be very open-minded and listen to anecdotal evidence that medical marijuana has some benefits. They've had to sort of step away from scientific studies," she said.

Not every Crohn's patient will qualify for marijuana treatment, King said. The patient must have "debilitating symptoms that are unrelieved by standard treatments or medications."

The Washington State Medical Marijuana Act was created by passage of Initiative 692 in the fall of 1998. It allows patients with approved conditions to possess and use marijuana for medical purposes.

The next petition to be considered will be to approve marijuana to treat pain associated with hepatitis C, King said. Hepatitis C is a virus that can cause nausea, vomiting and anorexia.