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Doctors Can Prescribe Medical Cannabis to Patients They See Fit

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Doctors Can Prescribe Medical Cannabis to Patients They See Fit

The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), run by the Cannabis Control Board (CCB), now allows New York doctors to recommend medical cannabis to patients they see fit. This means patients eligible for medical cannabis recommendations aren’t limited to a set of qualifying conditions. Any patient a doctor believes would benefit from medical cannabis can receive a medical cannabis recommendation. 

Once patients receive a recommendation, they can then register for their medical cannabis card through the state. Once they receive their card, they can then purchase medical cannabis from licensed dispensaries. Medical cannabis patients can also grow their own cannabis. This home growth option legalized last year in the state’s recreational cannabis legalization bill (MRTA).

Praise

Lawmakers and board members of the OCM and CCB are excited to see these changes finally take place. The New York medical cannabis program is now under the complete control of the OCM. This makes it easier to expand and change the program to better serve doctors and patients using medical cannabis.

“It is terrific to see the Medical Cannabis Program expand so vastly with the launch of the new certification and registration program and the ability of practitioners to determine qualifying conditions as included in the MRTA,” said Cannabis Control Board Chair Tremaine Wright

“The new cannabis industry is taking shape as we continue to implement the MRTA and provide greater access for New Yorkers to a medicine that we’re learning more about every day. We’re continuing to move forward swiftly and today’s system launch follows our achievements that already include adding whole flower medical product sales, permanently waiving $50 patient fees, and advancing home cultivation regulations, among others.” 

The OCM Executive Director, Chris Alexander, also spoke about the medical cannabis expansion. “Launching the new patient certification and registration system and expanding eligibility for the Medical Cannabis Program are significant steps forward for our program. We will continue to implement the MRTA and ensure that all New Yorkers who can benefit from medical cannabis have the access they need to do so,” he explained. “It’s important for New Yorkers to know that even as we shift the medical program to the OCM, your access will not be disrupted and the program will continue to expand.”

Program Changes

Allowing doctors to recommend prescriptions to all patients they see fit isn’t the only thing the OCM has done. Since they took over the medical cannabis program in October, they have implemented several changes changes, including:

  • Allowing the sale of whole flower medical cannabis
  • Increasing the amount of approved medical cannabis dispensed from a 30 day supply to 60 days
  • Expanding the types of eligible clinical providers able to certify patients to any licensed practitioner licensed to prescribe controlled substances. This now includes dentists, podiatrists, and midwives
  • Permanently waiving the $50 registration fee patients and caregivers
  • Streamlining the approval for facilities like hospitals, residential facilities, and schools. They will be designated as facilities that can hold and dispense products for patients

Furthermore, with these new changes the OCM made, they will most likely continue improving the New York medical cannabis program. Should any new information become available, we will update you with the latest.

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