Board of Physicians denies petition to add medullary sponge kidney as qualifying condition for medical cannabis

The Board of Physicians on May 16, 2025, voted to deny a petition to add medullary sponge kidney disease (MSK) as a qualifying debilitating condition for the state medical cannabis program.

The board concluded there is insufficient evidence that marijuana or cannabinoids are more likely than not to be beneficial for MSK itself; several board members said pain from kidney stones is already covered under the program’s existing chronic pain criterion.

Board members discussed the medical literature submitted by the petitioner, who was not present at the meeting. Dr. Bill (board member) summarized the literature search and said that only a small number of epidemiological and review…