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An Act To Clarify Application of the Medical Marijuana Law
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §2383-B, sub-§5, ¶A,  as enacted by IB 1999, c. 1, §10, is amended to read:
 
A.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who is at least 18 years of age may lawfully possess a usable amount of marijuana for medical use if, at the time of that possession, the person has available an authenticated copy of a medical record or other written documentation from a physician, demonstrating that:
 
(1) The person has been diagnosed by a physician as suffering from one or more of the following conditions:
 
(a) Persistent nausea, vomiting, wasting syndrome or loss of appetite as a result of:
 
(i) Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or the treatment thereof; or
 
(ii) Chemotherapy or radiation therapy used to treat cancer;
 
(b) Heightened intraocular pressure as a result of glaucoma;
 
(c) Seizures associated with a chronic, debilitating disease, such as epilepsy; or
 
(d) Persistent muscle spasms associated with a chronic, debilitating disease, such as multiple sclerosis or Crohn's disease; or
 
(e) Agitation from Alzheimer's disease;
 
(2) A physician, in the context of a bona fide physician-patient relationship with the person:
 
(a) Has discussed with the person the possible health risks and therapeutic or palliative benefits of the medical use of marijuana to relieve pain or alleviate symptoms of the person's condition, based on information known to the physician, including, but not limited to, clinical studies or anecdotal evidence reported in medical literature or observations or information concerning the use of marijuana by other patients with the same or similar conditions;
 
(b) Has provided the person with the physician's professional opinion concerning the possible balance of risks and benefits of the medical use of marijuana to relieve pain or alleviate symptoms in the person's particular case; and
 
(c) Has advised the person, on the basis of the physician's knowledge of the person's medical history and condition, that the person might benefit from the medical use of marijuana to relieve pain or alleviate symptoms of the person's condition;
 
(3) The person has disclosed to the physician that person's medical use of marijuana; and
 
(4) The person is under the continuing care of the physician.
 
SUMMARY
This bill amends the medical marijuana law to extend it to cover persons suffering from Crohn's disease and agitation from Alzheimer's disease.