2015 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 21a - Consumer Protection
Chapter 420f - Palliative Use of Marijuana
Section 21a-408l - Board of Physicians re palliative use of marijuana. Duties. Confidentiality of information.

(a) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall establish a Board of Physicians consisting of eight physicians or surgeons who are knowledgeable about the palliative use of marijuana and certified by the appropriate American board in one of the following specialties: Neurology, pain medicine, pain management, medical oncology, psychiatry, infectious disease, family medicine or gynecology. Four of the members of the board first appointed shall serve for a term of three years and four of the members of the board first appointed shall serve for a term of four years. Thereafter, members of the board shall serve for a term of four years and shall be eligible for reappointment. Any member of the board may serve until a successor is appointed. The Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall serve as an ex-officio member of the board, and shall select a chairperson from among the members of the board.

(b) A quorum of the Board of Physicians shall consist of three members.

(c) The Board of Physicians shall:

(1) Review and recommend to the Department of Consumer Protection for approval the debilitating medical conditions, medical treatments or diseases to be added to the list of debilitating medical conditions that qualify for the palliative use of marijuana;

(2) Accept and review petitions to add medical conditions, medical treatments or diseases to the list of debilitating medical conditions that qualify for the palliative use of marijuana;

(3) Convene at least twice per year to conduct public hearings and to evaluate petitions, which shall be maintained as confidential pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, for the purpose of adding medical conditions, medical treatments or diseases to the list of debilitating medical conditions that qualify for the palliative use of marijuana;

(4) Review and recommend to the Department of Consumer Protection protocols for determining the amounts of marijuana that may be reasonably necessary to ensure uninterrupted availability for a period of one month for qualifying patients, including amounts for topical treatments; and

(5) Perform other duties related to the palliative use of marijuana upon the request of the Commissioner of Consumer Protection.

(d) Any individually identifiable health information contained in a petition received under this section shall be confidential and shall not be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200.

(P.A. 12-55, S. 13.)

History: P.A. 12-55 effective May 31, 2012.