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As of last month, there were only 59 patients enrolled in D.C.’s medical marijuana program. That number starkly lays out the issues the four-month-old program is facing and the need, some advocates say, for expanding covered conditions.

Currently, only people with HIV or AIDS, cancer, glaucoma or severe muscle spasms are eligible to enroll in the program. At a Council roundtable last month, Capital City Care owner David Guard said he needs more patients to stay open, while Greater Greater Washington contributor said he may be forced to move his family out of the city so his son’s epilepsy can be treated with medical marijuana.

Now Mayor Vince Gray’s office has created a Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee, which will “monitor best practices in other states, monitor scientific research on the use of medical marijuana, measure the effectiveness of the District’s medical marijuana program, make recommendations when the Committee is asked to consult by other agencies, and make recommendations to the Mayor and the Council.”

There will be two subcommittees, Intergovernmental Operations and Scientific, with the former made up of the Director of the Department of Health (Joxel Garcia), the Director of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (Nicholas A. Majett), the Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (Cathy Lanier) and the City Administrator (Allen Lew). A subordinate delegee may also be appointed.

Update: Here’s reaction from Capital City Care’s David Guard: “This is an important milestone and we’re excited to see things moving forward. We look forward to working with the committee to address concerns about the sustainability of the medical marijuana program. We’ve heard from many patients who are eager to see more medical conditions added to the program, so I’m sure the Committee’s work will be followed closely in the patient community.”

Gray Establishes Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee by SAEHughes