PHOENIX -- Arizonans who say they suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder are hoping to get the same medical options as those with glaucoma or seizures: the right to use marijuana for medical purposes. PHOENIX -- Arizonans who say they suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder are hoping to get the same medical options as those with glaucoma or seizures: the right to use marijuana for medical purposes.

Petitions have been filed asking state Health Director Will Humble to add PTSD to the list of medical conditions that voters approved two years ago for medical marijuana. Humble will conduct a hearing later this month and likely issue a ruling in August.

PTSD sufferers are not the only ones hoping to add marijuana to the list of conditions that can be treated with marijuana. Other petitions are seeking to make the drug an option to treat migraines, depression and general anxiety disorder.

But proponents could have an uphill fight.

Humble noted that some of the petitions contain first-person reports of how their conditions were improved with the illegal use of the drug. Others have various news and magazine articles attached.

What are in short supply, though, are full-blown double-blind peer-reviewed laboratory studies. And Humble told Capitol Media Services that, without these, he is powerless to expand the legal uses of marijuana.

The 2010 voter-approved initiative lists specific conditions that can be treated with marijuana, ranging from glaucoma and AIDS to chronic or debilitating conditions that lead to severe and chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, or severe and persistent muscle spasms.

Would-be users must first get such a diagnosis from a doctor along with a recommendation that the drug would help. That allows the patient to get a state-issued card allow them to obtain up to 2 1/2 ounces of marijuana every two weeks.

There also are procedures to license about 125 dispensaries where medical marijuana cardholders can legally obtain the drug.

But the measure also entitles anyone to ask the health director to add to that list.