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Medical Marijuana Program In Pennsylvania Expands To Include Dry Leaf

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) —On the heels of New Jersey expanding its medical marijuana program, Pennsylvania is following suit.

Marijuana
Medical marijuana has not been proved to ease pain with one exception: neuropathic pain. One study found a worsening of symptoms among PTSD patients using cannabis. (Photo/CNN)

Patients registered in the state's medical marijuana program will soon be able to consume it in dry leaf or flower form, and more medical conditions will qualify for treatment by the drug.

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf's health secretary announced Monday she's accepting the recommendations of an advisory panel and adopting those changes.

Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine expects producers to make the dry leaf form of marijuana available sometime this summer.

State law prevents dispensaries from selling marijuana that's designed to be smoked.

But cannabis consumer advocate Chris Goldstein says patients who buy the dry leaf product can smoke it instead of vaporize it.

Levine is also adopting a recommendation that children who need the drug be certified by a pediatrician, but she says that change may take time to implement.

(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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