Senate Bill 261 received a first hearing last week before the Senate Small Business & Economic Opportunity Committee, which state Sen. Steve Huffman, R-Tipp City, described as a follow-up to House Bill 523; he sponsored that bill in 2016 to legalize medical marijuana.

“As might be expected, after five years it’s time to make some improvements to the program,” Huffman said.

The changes he proposes are the result of extensive discussion with medical marijuana businesses and patients, he said.

To the 21 conditions already eligible for medical marijuana, SB 261 would add:

• Arthritis

• Migraines

• Autism spectrum disorder

• Spasticity or chronic muscle spasms

• Hospice care or terminal illness

• Opioid use disorder, and

• Any other condition a recommending physician believes medical marijuana would help.

“That’s kind of a catchall phrase that will use the doctor’s education to decide,” said Huffman, who’s also a physician.

State Sen. Sandra Williams, D-Cleveland, asked how Huffman compiled the enlarged list of eligible conditions, and how doctors’ discretion in prescribing for unspecified conditions would be regulated.

Huffman said the named conditions came from advocacy groups, and that prescriptions for medical marijuana would be monitored the same way all other prescriptions are. [Read more at Dayton Daily News]