The numbers are in for the first week of registration for Minnesota's new medical marijuana program.

As of last Friday, 104 health care practitioners had applied to the state's Office of Medical Cannabis and 54 can now certify their patients to buy medical marijuana as soon as it's legal, on July 1.

Just eight patients have fully enrolled in the program so far, although 27 patients have been certified to participate by a doctor, nurse or other health care practitioner.

Minnesota places tight limits on medical cannabis. The program is restricted to patients with nine qualifying conditions -- including certain cancers and terminal illnesses, epilepsy and glaucoma. The state's entire marijuana crop will be grown by two authorized companies -- Minnesota Medical Solutions and LeafLine Labs -- and it will be sold only in pill or liquid form at eight clinics scattered around the state.

The Health Department is currently debating whether to expand to program to include patients suffering from intractable pain.

To participate in the program, a health care worker must certify that a patient has one of the qualifying conditions. There is a $200 annual registration fee -- or $50, for low-income patients. Patients can register for the program at any time.

For more information, visit: http://www.health.state.mn.us/topics/cannabis/index.htm

From the Health Department: