Hospital CEOs: Medical Marijuana In NY? Tell Me More

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A growing number of hospitals in New York state are taking interest in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to legalize marijuana for medicinal use. Cuomo says he will issue an executive order allowing up to 20 hospitals around the state to give medical marijuana to cancer patients and those suffering from other serious diseases. The intent is for each region of the state to have at least one hospital dispensing medical marijuana. The state Department of Health still is deciding which conditions will be eligible for marijuana to alleviate pain and suffering.

The department also is figuring out how to set up a distribution system, and writing the protocol that will dictate the research to be done with those patients. It is unclear when those will be finished. Results reported by the hospitals will be used to craft future state law, Cuomo says. The health department says at least 10 hospitals have said they're interested in finding out more about the program. They include Albany Medical Center, which has 8,000 employees anchored at its hospital and connected teaching college on the edge of downtown Albany. Albany Med has the second-largest market share in the Capital Region, at 27 percent. St. Peter's Health Partners leads the pack at 48 percent, according to Fitch, the

Wall Street credit rating agency. A full list of hospitals that have inquired about medical marijuana is below. A Feb. 26 poll showed more than three in four registered voters in New York favoring some level of legalized medical marijuana. New Yorkers don't appear ready to join the ranks of Colorado and Washington state, which recently approved recreational use of the drug. New York voters polled were opposed that idea by a 53-43 margin. The poll was conducted by the Siena Research Institute, part of private Siena College in Loudonville.

Hospitals that have inquired include:
Albany Medical Center
University of Rochester Hospital
Roswell Park (in Buffalo)
White Plaints Hospital
Montefiore
North Shore LIJ
Mt. Sinai
Stony Brook
Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (in Plattsburgh)
New York City Health and Hospitals Corp.

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News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Bizjournals.com
Author: Adam Sichko
Contact: Contact Us - Albany Business Review
Website: Hospital CEOs: Medical marijuana in NY? Tell me more. - Albany Business Review
 
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