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Even though electors choose to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes, employers can still fire or refuse to hire a person who tests positive.
Kathleen Gray, Detroit Free Press Lansing Bureau

Marijuana use for medical purposes will be extended to people with cerebral palsy, according to the state's licensing and regulatory affairs department.

The disease joins more than two dozen state-certified diseases as eligible for a medical marijuana card, ranging from cancer to glaucoma, AIDS, and chronic pain.

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder caused by an injury that occurs during the development of the child's brain. The symptoms of the disease include a loss of motor skills and motor control, and cannabis has been cited as aiding in the relief of pain and the relief of seizures and spastic movements. In the United States, about 764,000 people have cerebral palsy, according to the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation. About 500,000 of these people are under 18 years old.

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Although marijuana for medical purposes is cerebral palsy, the licensing department has refused chronic aggressive behavior as a qualifying condition.

Michigan voters approved the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes in 2008. Since then, the medical marijuana review committee has collected testimonials on dozens of conditions that could qualify a person for a medical marijuana card . Currently in Michigan, there are more than 294,000 cardholders.

A marijuana card holder for medical purposes can have any age and many young people with diseases such as epilepsy or other seizure disorders use marijuana to control their seizures. The Food and Drug Administration even approved last year a cannabis drug – Epidolex – to help control a form of severe epilepsy.

In November, voters approved a voting proposal legalizing marijuana for adult recreational use, but only for people aged at least 21 years old. Medical marijuana will still be available to consumers of any age, but anyone under the age of 18 must have parent or guardian approval.

Kathleen Gray covers the marijuana industry for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at 313-223-4430, [email protected] or Twitter @michpoligal.

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