Arizona PTSD Sufferers Must Continue Seeking Second Opinion For Medical Marijuana

By Holliday Moore
Published: Wednesday, September 13, 2017 - 8:00am

Arizonans suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and seeking medical marijuana for treatment must continue clearing an extra hurdle before they are approved.

The state Supreme Court rejected arguments Tuesday that the state's unique requirements for PTSD patients seeking marijuana treatment is unconstitutional.

Attorney Ken Sobel argued for the Arizona Cannabis Nurses Association that no other patients prescribed marijuana for chronic illness are required to see two health care professionals for approval.

"PTSD patients, unlike any other patients, have to first prove they're undergoing another kind of treatment program in addition to cannabis," he said. "And that obviously is a fundamental violation of equal protection, due process and a patient's right to choose."

Sobel said the fight is not over. He plans to take the argument to the U.S. Supreme Court under the Equal Protection Amendment of the Constitution.

Science