This bill amends the definition of "serious medical condition" in the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act, allowing attending physicians to use their professional judgment to determine if a patient's condition would benefit from medical cannabis. The previous specific list of conditions that qualified for medical cannabis use has been removed, which included ailments such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis, among others. Instead, the new language broadens the definition to encompass any medical condition that a physician believes would benefit from cannabis treatment.

Additionally, the bill revises the certification process for patients seeking medical cannabis, emphasizing the role of the physician in assessing the patient's needs. This change aims to provide greater flexibility in the certification process, potentially increasing access to medical cannabis for patients with various medical conditions as determined by their healthcare providers. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the medical cannabis program in West Virginia by empowering physicians to make more individualized treatment decisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16A-2-1