Robert Celt
New Member
So much for the "compassion" in New York's Compassionate Care Act.
It's been nearly two years since Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation that allows New York residents with certain illnesses access to a non-smokable form of marijuana. Yet the state Department of Health has botched its implementation of the program, which officially launched Jan. 7.
People who are suffering from illnesses eligible for medical marijuana use – cancer, HIV/AIDS, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease and Huntington's disease, for example – are not getting the access they need to this program. A USA TODAY Network investigation found that patients are struggling to find physicians who can certify them to access medical marijuana. Some physicians are concerned about federal legal troubles and endangering their medical practice for prescribing marijuana.
Ridiculous doesn't begin to describe this situation. The state Health Department should immediately review medical marijuana programs across the country and adapt what they learn to New York's program to make it work. And, as this board has encouraged in the past, the state Health Department should make public the names of doctors who are registered to certify patients for the medical marijuana program.
It boggles the mind that New York state seems so clueless about how to get this program running smoothly. New York state is hardly a pioneer in this arena. There are more than 20 states with medical marijuana programs, including Arizona, Maryland, New Jersey and Vermont. If other states across the country can figure out the nuances and legalities of a medical marijuana program, so can New York.
As of February, 428 physicians have registered for the state Medical Marijuana Program, and 1,301 patients have been certified by their doctors.
Unlike other states, New York tells doctors to prescribe specific doses of the drug to treat disease. In other states, this is done by the dispensaries where patients buy the drug. This understandably makes physicians nervous, since marijuana is still illegal under federal law. If the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration wanted to make a point, it could revoke a doctor's access to other prescription drugs because the doctor prescribed marijuana.
Fear of facing penalties and potentially endangering one's medical practice is understandable. And that it is why it is imperative for New York to understand how other states deal with this issue and alter the state's medical marijuana program accordingly.
There are real-life consequences to the state's actions. Medical marijuana could help a 5-year-old Rockland County boy with a rare form of epilepsy get relief from horrible seizures. But his mother, a physician herself, cannot find a doctor to certify the boy's treatment.
The debate about the benefits and use of medical marijuana won't soon end in our state, and that's fine. What is not OK is allowing the program to flounder. The Compassionate Care Act was signed into law and mandates are not being met thanks to a bumpy start. It's time for the state to steady the ship.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: New York Needs To Adjust Medical Marijuana Program
Author: Editorial
Contact: Democrat & Chronicle
Photo Credit: Tania Savayan
Website: Democrat & Chronicle
It's been nearly two years since Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation that allows New York residents with certain illnesses access to a non-smokable form of marijuana. Yet the state Department of Health has botched its implementation of the program, which officially launched Jan. 7.
People who are suffering from illnesses eligible for medical marijuana use – cancer, HIV/AIDS, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease and Huntington's disease, for example – are not getting the access they need to this program. A USA TODAY Network investigation found that patients are struggling to find physicians who can certify them to access medical marijuana. Some physicians are concerned about federal legal troubles and endangering their medical practice for prescribing marijuana.
Ridiculous doesn't begin to describe this situation. The state Health Department should immediately review medical marijuana programs across the country and adapt what they learn to New York's program to make it work. And, as this board has encouraged in the past, the state Health Department should make public the names of doctors who are registered to certify patients for the medical marijuana program.
It boggles the mind that New York state seems so clueless about how to get this program running smoothly. New York state is hardly a pioneer in this arena. There are more than 20 states with medical marijuana programs, including Arizona, Maryland, New Jersey and Vermont. If other states across the country can figure out the nuances and legalities of a medical marijuana program, so can New York.
As of February, 428 physicians have registered for the state Medical Marijuana Program, and 1,301 patients have been certified by their doctors.
Unlike other states, New York tells doctors to prescribe specific doses of the drug to treat disease. In other states, this is done by the dispensaries where patients buy the drug. This understandably makes physicians nervous, since marijuana is still illegal under federal law. If the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration wanted to make a point, it could revoke a doctor's access to other prescription drugs because the doctor prescribed marijuana.
Fear of facing penalties and potentially endangering one's medical practice is understandable. And that it is why it is imperative for New York to understand how other states deal with this issue and alter the state's medical marijuana program accordingly.
There are real-life consequences to the state's actions. Medical marijuana could help a 5-year-old Rockland County boy with a rare form of epilepsy get relief from horrible seizures. But his mother, a physician herself, cannot find a doctor to certify the boy's treatment.
The debate about the benefits and use of medical marijuana won't soon end in our state, and that's fine. What is not OK is allowing the program to flounder. The Compassionate Care Act was signed into law and mandates are not being met thanks to a bumpy start. It's time for the state to steady the ship.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: New York Needs To Adjust Medical Marijuana Program
Author: Editorial
Contact: Democrat & Chronicle
Photo Credit: Tania Savayan
Website: Democrat & Chronicle
