By KRWG News
New Mexico – The New Mexico health secretary says requirements for patients with chronic pain to join the medical marijuana program will not change.
Dr. Alfredo Vigil decided Tuesday against eliminating a requirement that both a primary care physician and a chronic pain specialist sign off on such cases.
He says that's to ensure medical marijuana is available only to those who need it as a treatment of last resort.
Chronic pain patients also have to have objective proof such as CT scans or X-rays.
Vigil says the requirements are reasonable given what he terms "the limited scientific evidence guiding the use of cannabis and that it is a common drug of abuse."
The program's Medical Advisory Board had recommended the department eliminate the requirement of a specialist.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.