NY to expand medical marijuana program, allow deliveries

In response to patient and advocate concerns that New York’s medical marijuana program is too restrictive to serve many of its potential beneficiaries, the state health department today announced a series of reforms meant to make medical THC more accessible, including home delivery state-wide as soon as next month.

The state said it will allow home delivery because many patients with serious health conditions can not leave their homes and have difficulty getting medical marijuana.

Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, chairman of the Assembly Health Committee, said he’s introduced legislation that would allow both nurse practitioners and physician assistants to certify patients who can use medical marijuana.

Doctor Amy Piperato of Stony Point, New York told the Times that some doctors figure, “Why put yourself at risk of liability of recommending a Schedule I product?” Five producers started selling the medicines in January.

Two weeks ago the Health Department had appealed to the State with 12 suggestions to ease restrictions on the medical marijuana program that was legalized in 2014.

More brands of the drug will also be considered, although the law will still restrict medical marijuana to non-smoke formats such as drops, sprays and pills.

Current conditions include cancer, AIDS and epilepsy. “We are constantly evaluating the program to make it more effective for patients and practitioners, and we believe that the implementation of these recommendations will do just that”.

Ease the cost of the drug for some with a waiver of the $50 registration fee for those of qualifying economic hardship.

If you’re a Cayuga County resident who meets the eligibility standards to receive a medical marijuana prescription, you’ll need to see a doctor outside of the county. “Within the next week, the Department will issue guidance to the registered organizations outlining requirements that must be addressed in their home delivery plan submissions”.

Additionally, the state will consider whether to make chronic pain a condition eligible for marijuana, and begin plans for more dispensaries around the state.

“Every single person we serve has a life threatening and debilitating disease, and from an economic perspective”, said Hoffnung.

Though pleased with the majority of the policy proposals, company executives expressed opposition over the idea to bringing more companies into a market where the five established ones are struggling for their foothold.