Four weeks after the governor of New York said her administration was creating a $200 million public-private fund to help promote social equity in the state’s cannabis market, the Office of Cannabis Management announced an important adjustment to the medical cannabis program in place in New York State.
The state expands medical cannabis eligibility to all pathologies.
From now on, doctors are allowed to prescribe medical cannabis for any type of condition that can be treated with cannabis. Doctors are no longer required to follow the list of diseases previously eligible for medical cannabis.
This adjustment was implemented in accordance with the state Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act, otherwise known as the Marihuana Regulation & Taxation Act, MRTA. In effect since last year, the law signed by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo already permits adults of more than 21 years old to possess and publicly consume cannabis.
“It’s great to see the medical cannabis program expanding so significantly with the launch of the new certification and registration program and the ability for practitioners to determine eligibility requirements as provided by the MRTA.“ said Tremaine Wright, chairman of the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) in a press release.
Permanent removal of the $50 fee for patients and new regulations for the personal cultivation of cannabis.
“The new cannabis industry is taking shape as we continue to implement the MRTA and provide New Yorkers with greater access to medicine that we are learning more about every day,” Wright said. “We continue to move forward rapidly and today’s launch of the system builds on our achievements which already include adding the sale of whole flower medical products, permanently waiving the $50 fee for patients, and the advancement of home cultivation regulations, among others,” he added.
Last year, the CCB voted unanimously in favor of a policy change with the goal of allowing patients to grow medical cannabis for personal use.
“We will continue to implement the MRTA and ensure that all New Yorkers who can benefit from medical cannabis have the access they need,” concluded the president of the CCB.
“Estimates suggest that more than a million New Yorkers use cannabis,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “The more we know about cannabis use, the better we can tailor strategies and approaches that promote the health of the city’s residents,” he added.
