As the 2019 Colorado legislation continues, bills proposing to finance marijuana-related industries and expand medical marijuana access are being introduced to the Colorado Capital. One of the bills proposed this year is HB19-1028 that specifically focuses on adding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to the list of disabling medical conditions that authorize a person to use medical marijuana for their specified condition.

Under HB19-1028, two definitions of a disabling medical condition are given: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and ASD diagnosed by a primary care physician, a physician with experience in treating ASD or a licensed health provider acting within their scope of practice. The bill states that a person under 18 years of age shall not engage in medical marijuana use unless two physicians have diagnosed the patient as having a disabling medical condition. If the physician recommending the patient’s medical marijuana use is not their primary physician, the recommending physician will review the records of a diagnosing physician or licensed health provider working within their scope of practice. HB19-1028 removed additional requirements for physicians under current law that requires a child under 18 years of age who wants access to medical marijuana would have to be diagnosed with a disabling medical condition by two physicians: one of whom must be a board-certified pediatrician, a board-certified family physician or a board-certified child or adolescent psychiatrist that is part of the patient’s primary care team.

The bill also encourages the state board to award marijuana study grants for gathering objective scientific research on the effectiveness and safety of administering medical marijuana to patients with dementia, ovarian cancer and pediatric conditions that include ASD.

HB19-1028 passed the third House hearing on Feb. 7 and was introduced to Senate Health & Human Services on Feb. 11. It will enter a hearing to the Senate House & Services Committee on March 14.