Petition To Legalize Medical Marijuana For Autism Struck Down

A petition to make autism one of the conditions treatable by medical marijuana in Michigan has been struck down.

In a letter posted to the Michigan government website, Mike Zimmer, the Director of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, says that he doesn’t feel there is enough evidence that medical marijuana, specifically marijuana oils and extracts, helps treat autism in children.

Zimmer also says that the petition language isn’t clear enough as to who would be eligible to receive treatment, saying that “Although ‘severe autism’ is referenced in the petition, the petition does not limit the proposed qualifying medical condition to ‘severe autism’, nor is the term ‘severe autism’ defined anywhere in the petition”.

The petition was approved by the Michigan Medical Marijuana Review Panel 4-2 in July, but Mike Zimmer has the ability to turn it down.