Robert Celt
New Member
The state's foray into medical marijuana is slow going. As of Saturday, fewer than half of the dispensaries across the state are open.
"Are you going to go see Dr. Berg in a couple of weeks," Christine Emerson asked her daughter Julia. "What's he going to get for you?"
"My medicine," Julia Emerson smiled.
For 9-year-old Julia, medical marijuana would mean turning over a new leaf.
"She has what's called retractable epilepsy, or medicine resistant epilepsy, so we have trailed 14 medicines that have made her worse or not helped her at all," Christine explained.
The last few options could possibly leave Julia losing her peripheral vision, or developing aplastic anemia. It's left the family with one option: medical marijuana.
"It kind of work as an anti-epileptic, so it calms the brain," Christine said.
The family was a major advocate for the Compassion Care Act. But, facing the legislature was just hurdle number one.
"Julia's neurologist had not taken the course as of Jan. 1," Christine said. "As far as I know now he has taken the course and has received all the paperwork he needs from the state."
As of now, 226 physicians are registered in the state's medical marijuana program. But, there's another obstacle. Even though the program launched Jan. 7, only eight of the 20 dispensaries across the state are open. While it's being manufactured in Monroe County, the dispensary isn't open.
With no medical cannabis available and no set date of when it will be, the Emerson's are considering driving more than 300 miles to get Julia the medicine she needs. That leads to another question; will there be enough to go around?
"Once she starts taking this medicine, or any kid starts taking this medicine you can't stop," Tim Emerson, Julia's father said.
It's a chance the family has to take. They're keeping good faith the five companies given licenses to manufacture and dispense medical marijuana are working promptly to offer relief to children like Julia.
"What's it going to do for you," Christine asked Julia about the medical marijuana.
"It's going to make my seizures go away," Julia said.
Medical marijuana in New York will only come in pills, liquid or a concentrate that can be vaporized.
Columbia Care, the company in charge of Monroe County's dispensary, has not set said when it will be open.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Families Wait As Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Around NYS Remain Closed
Author: Breanna Fuss
Contact: Time Warner Cable News
Photo Credit: Jennifer Peltz
Website: Time Warner Cable News
"Are you going to go see Dr. Berg in a couple of weeks," Christine Emerson asked her daughter Julia. "What's he going to get for you?"
"My medicine," Julia Emerson smiled.
For 9-year-old Julia, medical marijuana would mean turning over a new leaf.
"She has what's called retractable epilepsy, or medicine resistant epilepsy, so we have trailed 14 medicines that have made her worse or not helped her at all," Christine explained.
The last few options could possibly leave Julia losing her peripheral vision, or developing aplastic anemia. It's left the family with one option: medical marijuana.
"It kind of work as an anti-epileptic, so it calms the brain," Christine said.
The family was a major advocate for the Compassion Care Act. But, facing the legislature was just hurdle number one.
"Julia's neurologist had not taken the course as of Jan. 1," Christine said. "As far as I know now he has taken the course and has received all the paperwork he needs from the state."
As of now, 226 physicians are registered in the state's medical marijuana program. But, there's another obstacle. Even though the program launched Jan. 7, only eight of the 20 dispensaries across the state are open. While it's being manufactured in Monroe County, the dispensary isn't open.
With no medical cannabis available and no set date of when it will be, the Emerson's are considering driving more than 300 miles to get Julia the medicine she needs. That leads to another question; will there be enough to go around?
"Once she starts taking this medicine, or any kid starts taking this medicine you can't stop," Tim Emerson, Julia's father said.
It's a chance the family has to take. They're keeping good faith the five companies given licenses to manufacture and dispense medical marijuana are working promptly to offer relief to children like Julia.
"What's it going to do for you," Christine asked Julia about the medical marijuana.
"It's going to make my seizures go away," Julia said.
Medical marijuana in New York will only come in pills, liquid or a concentrate that can be vaporized.
Columbia Care, the company in charge of Monroe County's dispensary, has not set said when it will be open.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Families Wait As Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Around NYS Remain Closed
Author: Breanna Fuss
Contact: Time Warner Cable News
Photo Credit: Jennifer Peltz
Website: Time Warner Cable News
