Officials in Illinois have given initial approval to petitions to add both female orgasmic disorder (FOD) and endometriosis as qualifying medical marijuana conditions
The Illinois Medical Cannabis Advisory Board voted overwhelming to approve both conditions. The Department of Health will need to sign off on the recommendations before the two conditions can be officially added to the state’s medical marijuana program.
According to the Mayo Clinic, endometriosis is “a disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that lines the uterus grows outside the uterus in places where it doesn’t belong”, which can cause severe pain. Endometriosis is a common condition that affects an estimated 5%-10% of women and adolescents of reproductive age (15-49 years) and up to 50% of women who are infertile.
Female orgasmic disorder is characterized by a persistent or recurrent delay in or absence of orgasm following sexual arousal and adequate sexual stimulation. This condition affects up to 40% of women.
Although recreational marijuana is legal in Illinois, there are still benefits to those who are authorized medical marijuana patients. For example, medical marijuana purchases are tax-free, and patients are allowed to grow their own, and possess over the 30 gram possession limit if they cultivated it themselves.
According to data released by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, there was a total of $158.1 million worth of legal marijuana sold in January. $133.8 million of this was purchased by recreational consumers, with $24.3 million purchased by medical marijuana patients.
