Another request has been rejected by Mexico’s top health official that would permit the use of medical cannabis to treat opioid addiction.  

Cannabis advocates responded to the decision, stating that New Mexico is in desperate need of a fresh, tactical method for dealing with statewide drug problems.

Even the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board backed the decision. However, according to Health Secretary Lynn Gallagher, the medical literature is insufficient to demonstrate the impact that cannabis use has on individuals who battle opioid use. This was her justification for refusing the use of medical cannabis to treat opioid addiction.

“I cannot say with any degree of confidence that the use of cannabis for treatment of opioid dependence and its symptoms would be either safe or effective,” wrote Gallagher.

Department of Health has rejected medical cannabis recommendations before

This isn’t the first time that the Department of Health has refused recommendations from the Medical Cannabis Advisory Board to permit the use of medical cannabis to treat opioid addiction.

Plant advocates say that cannabis is a valuable natural ingredient that can be successfully used to minimize the symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal, as well as reduce cravings.  

The proposal was supported by the advisory board by a 5-1 vote.

“I’m extremely disappointed that the Administration has once again failed to listen to the experts to allow the use of medical cannabis to treat opioid use disorder,” expressed state Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces in a statement. “In the heart of the opioid abuse epidemic it’s critical we use every tool available to save lives.”

Just last year, a bill was passed by the Legislature to add opiate addiction as a qualifying condition for patients enrolled in New Mexico’s medical cannabis program. However, the measure was overthrown by Gov. Susana Martinez,  who said that she had reservations about the capacity of the states medical cannabis program.

By the close of June, the Department of Health confirmed that 55,000 patients were enrolled in New Mexico’s medical cannabis program.

Gallagher rejected various qualifying conditions for medical cannabis

The top health state official also turned down recommendations to include eczema, psoriasis, Tourette’s syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease and muscular dystrophy to the list of New Mexico’s medical cannabis program qualifying conditions.

Gallagher did, however, give the go-ahead for the state to add obstructive sleep apnea to the list of qualifying conditions. She affirms that she is, in fact, concerned about statewide and countrywide opiate abuse. On the other hand, she is not sure about the safety associated with using medical cannabis as a treatment for opioid addiction, due to a lack of scientific research.

Nonetheless, new medical cannabis studies are surfacing all of the time and so, it is just a matter of time before Gallagher’s opinion on the green stuff changes.