PHOENIX — Arizona’s chief health officer wants to make it more difficult to add new conditions to the list for which doctors can recommend medical marijuana.

The change would require “clear and convincing evidence,” published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, that there is some benefit from the use of marijuana for the specified medical condition.

State Health Director Will Humble said that probably means multiple articles.

That’s a big change from the current regulations, which allow consideration of “a summary of the evidence” that marijuana will either help treat the condition or at least provide some relief from symptoms.

While the current rules also ask for articles in scientific journals, there is no mandate the research be “evidence-based” — or that the conclusions be clear and convincing.

Although he must hold at least one public hearing on a change in the rules, Humble has the power to unilaterally make a change. [Read More]