Patrick McClellan uses a 32-pill regimen each day to ease the suffering from his rare form of muscular dystrophy, which can feel like a charley horse that violently spreads across the lower half of his body.

He could cut that prescription cocktail in half with a steady dosage of medicinal marijuana after he discovered a decade ago that it does wonders to treat the symptoms of his disease.

That is, if he could afford it.

He’s hopeful he soon can under a new law that allows adults 21 and older in the medical marijuana program to purchase the raw flower form of cannabis and smoke it. The change puts Minnesota’s program, previously one of the most restrictive and expensive in the nation, in line with what most other states are doing. The state estimates it will increase participation by three or four times, driving down costs.

“This is a huge win for the patients,” said McClellan, who limits his participation in the program because of the high cost. “The price is going to drop substantially and it’s also going to give people more options to choose what works best for them.” [Read more at The Star Tribune]