Chronic Pain, Opioid Addiction and PTSD Might Become Qualifying Conditions

Some New Hampshire lawmakers support a bill that would add opioid addiction to the list of qualifying conditions for the state’s medical marijuana program. Testimony was recently heard regarding the several bills introduced to expand the state’s program. Also being considered are chronic pain, PTSD, fibromyalgia and myelitis disorder.

Patients were present at the recent hearings to testify in favor of the proposed bills, according to Concord Monitor. Dr. Molly Rossignol is opposed to treating opioid addiction with medical marijuana. The doctors states her reasoning for her opposition is a lack of research on the subject.

Dr. Rossignol said, “We’re going down a dark and potentially dangerous road. In the past year, I’ve evaluated over 100 patients in our capital region. It is clear that cannabis is not helping them stop or reduce their use of opioids.”

A 2014 study, however, shows that in states where medical marijuana is legal, the number of opioid overdose deaths was reduced by 25-percent. Rossignol supports the use of methadone, naltrexone and suboxone for treating addiction rather than medical marijuana. Medicare has also reported saving over $100 million annually on prescription medications in states where medical marijuana is legal.

Rossignol said, “It is something that I see every day reducing their chances of getting into long-term recovery. I think it’s a very slippery slope.”

Rossignol believes that using medical marijuana to treat opioid addiction would increase opioid use rather than reduce it.

One patient, Stephen Boulter supports adding chronic pain to the list of qualifying conditions. He suffers from chronic pain due to a vertebrae injury.

Boulter said, “It’s with you 24 hours a day; you always have pain. The only think that mitigated the pain were opiates, which I detested.”

In regards to his use of medical marijuana, Boulter said, “It made a tremendous difference; it allows me to go to bed at night and go to sleep. I firmly believe that anyone suffering with severe chronic pain working with a qualified provider can restore a normal, high-quality standard of living.”

Representative Joe LaChance wants PTSD added, as he is a disabled veteran himself.

LaChance said, “Cannabis saved my life. The VA got me addicted to opioids. Add a bottle of Jack Daniels to that, I’m lucky to be here.”

Further discussions regarding the five introduced bills will be held.