Minnesota Expands Medical Cannabis to Sleep Apnea Patients

Sleep apnea is a rather irritating, uncomfortable, and unwelcome sleeping disorder for any one. In severe cases, it can lead to other diseases such as heart attacks, diabetes, and even death if left untreated.

However, now apart from other forms of treatment and management for sleep apnea, the state of Minnesota has expanded the use of medical marijuana for those diagnosed with the sleep disorder. But, how does medical marijuana help with sleep apnea?

The inclusion of sleep apnea in the medical marijuana treatment program

There may be a few questions as to why Minnesota has expanded medical marijuana is to sleep apnea, but the reasons are pretty straightforward. To begin with, the state health officials have compelling scientific and anecdotal evidence about the benefits of medical marijuana to such patients.

Secondly, a case study on a fifteen-year-old has proven that the treatment works, even where other treatment programs have failed.

Other subs tentative reasons include the input from the public, whereby they endorse a suitable condition to be involved in the program. After that, a quorum consisting of the health department staff and the citizen's review panel consider each entry. In this case, sleep apnea was chosen.

Research summaries prepared by the Minnesota health department also alluded that the treatment worked. They showed some scientific proofs concerning the effectiveness of treatments involving medical cannabis.

On November 30, 2017, advocates for medical cannabis petitioned the Minnesota department of health to add more qualifying conditions to the previous list, which was the inclusion of Autism and sleep apnea in the medical cannabis program.

Consequently, their efforts bore fruits. On July 1, 2018, patients with autism and obstructive sleep apnea will be able to enroll in the program, and on August 1, 2018, they can pick up their medication.

Also, because of the the lack of existing effective drug treatments, and the potential side effects occasioned by the current treatment regimens, like the CPAP machine, would be reduced. In a report, medical marijuana aids most patients with a sleep disorder.

Not to forget, studies show that people suffering from sleep apnea tend to struggle with the current forms of treatment. For example, they fail to stick to the use of CPAP air flow device at night.

Qualifications for a medical cannabis treatment program

According to the Minnesota Department of health, you must satisfy the following qualifying conditions in order to enroll in the medical cannabis treatment program:

• First and foremost you must be a legal resident of Minnesota
• You have  to be suffering from a terminal disease characterized by severe pains, wasting, nausea or severe vomiting, besides patients who have conditions such as, cancer, glaucoma, inflammatory bowel disease among others
• Moreover, they must meet the published diagnostic criteria for the ailment and an interpretation of what constitutes a formal sleep study
• Another condition is that the patient must have an advanced certification from a Minnesota healthcare provider
• Lastly, they must undergo an overnight sleep study

More exquisite details about the program's certification can be gotten from the office of medical cannabis.