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Less than a year after the state's medical marijuana laws took effect, doctors have certified more than 700 people to use marijuana, although patients won't be able to buy it legally until 2014.
Of the certifications, 212 were issued to people with post-traumatic stress disorder, the most of any of the medical conditions that qualify for marijuana certifications under state law. The medical condition with the second-highest number of certifications is spinal cord damage, with 192. Other conditions include multiple sclerosis, cancer, HIV/AIDS and Parkinson's disease.
The state is still working out details of the regulations for growing and distributing marijuana through dispensaries. William Rubenstein, director of the Department of Consumer Protection, said the dispensaries should be up and running in the first half of 2014.
The numbers come from a report from the state Office of Legislative Research comparing Connecticut's medical marijuana program with those of California, Colorado and Washington state.
The report also states that 91 physicians have registered with the state Department of Consumer Protection to issue certifications for medical marijuana use. One of them is Dr. Andrew Salner, chief of the department of radiation oncology at Hartford Hospital. Salner said he has issued certificates to two of his patients, both of whom have pain and other complications from cancer. He said he is in talks with five other patients about marijuana.
"I've been pretty stringent, at the outset of the program, about wanting to really make sure [patients] fit the criteria of the program," he said. Both patients have used marijuana on their own, he said, and have found that it can replace some of their regular medicines.
"They have a sense of relief that once the program is up and running that they can get it legally and from a safe source without additives or pesticides."
As for other doctors, he said, "I think they're in a wait-and-see mode to see how well the program will work, and to make sure they're not susceptible to federal action," he said.
The state began allowing patients to register for marijuana usage Oct. 1 last year. Rubenstein said that although 735 people have been certified as qualified to use medicinal marijuana, only about 500 of those have been cleared by the state. Once patients get the certification from a physician, he said, they need approval from the state by proving that they meet all the criteria – that they are at least 18 years old, for instance, and are Connecticut residents.
The Department of Consumer Protection submitted regulations for marijuana dispensaries earlier this year. Revisions to the regulations will likely be reviewed and possibly acted on at the Aug. 27 meeting of the state legislature's regulation review committee.
Rubenstein said that if the revisions are approved, the state will put out information as to how potential operators of dispensaries can apply. The law allows for at least three, but no more than 10, dispensaries to operate in Connecticut.
"It's going to be a competitive process, so we'll determine which applications best meet the criteria," he said.
He estimated that licenses will be issued around the beginning of next year and that the dispensaries would be operating three to six months after that.
The report from the Office of Legislative Research stated that of the four states considered, Connecticut had the most restrictive qualifying conditions. For instance, Connecticut does not list chronic or severe pain as one of the conditions for which marijuana can be prescribed. The report also noted that Connecticut is the only one of the four states that doesn't allow patients to grow marijuana or allow anyone under 18 to use marijuana.
Medical marijuana is new to the state, but Rubenstein said the state has made sure to approach it as it would any other controlled pharmaceutical.
"This is not an entirely new system for us," he said. "There are lots of other controlled pharmaceutical substances made in the state. We understand what the protocol is. We're not expecting any glitches."
While the medical marijuana bill was still being debated last year, the Connecticut State Medical Society was among its most vocal opponents. Ken Ferrucci, vice president of public policy and government affairs for the organization, said the society hasn't changed its position, but is now focused on monitoring how the laws are implemented. One of his main concerns, Ferrucci said, was that physicians don't put themselves at legal risk.
"We want to make sure that physicians who do opt to take advantage of the law aren't prosecuted," he said. "There's still a discrepancy between state and federal governments."
The Obama administration has been vague on federal law enforcement in states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use or allowed it for medical use. Federal prosecutors in California have brought charges against some sellers of medical marijuana.
In December, Attorney General Eric Holder acknowledged a "tension between federal law and these state laws" and said a clarification of federal policy would come "relatively soon."
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: courant.com
Author: William Weir
Contact: Contact Us - Courant.com
Website: Medical Marijuana: Hundreds in Connecticut have been certified by doctors to possess marijuana for medical purposes - Courant.com
Of the certifications, 212 were issued to people with post-traumatic stress disorder, the most of any of the medical conditions that qualify for marijuana certifications under state law. The medical condition with the second-highest number of certifications is spinal cord damage, with 192. Other conditions include multiple sclerosis, cancer, HIV/AIDS and Parkinson's disease.
The state is still working out details of the regulations for growing and distributing marijuana through dispensaries. William Rubenstein, director of the Department of Consumer Protection, said the dispensaries should be up and running in the first half of 2014.
The numbers come from a report from the state Office of Legislative Research comparing Connecticut's medical marijuana program with those of California, Colorado and Washington state.
The report also states that 91 physicians have registered with the state Department of Consumer Protection to issue certifications for medical marijuana use. One of them is Dr. Andrew Salner, chief of the department of radiation oncology at Hartford Hospital. Salner said he has issued certificates to two of his patients, both of whom have pain and other complications from cancer. He said he is in talks with five other patients about marijuana.
"I've been pretty stringent, at the outset of the program, about wanting to really make sure [patients] fit the criteria of the program," he said. Both patients have used marijuana on their own, he said, and have found that it can replace some of their regular medicines.
"They have a sense of relief that once the program is up and running that they can get it legally and from a safe source without additives or pesticides."
As for other doctors, he said, "I think they're in a wait-and-see mode to see how well the program will work, and to make sure they're not susceptible to federal action," he said.
The state began allowing patients to register for marijuana usage Oct. 1 last year. Rubenstein said that although 735 people have been certified as qualified to use medicinal marijuana, only about 500 of those have been cleared by the state. Once patients get the certification from a physician, he said, they need approval from the state by proving that they meet all the criteria – that they are at least 18 years old, for instance, and are Connecticut residents.
The Department of Consumer Protection submitted regulations for marijuana dispensaries earlier this year. Revisions to the regulations will likely be reviewed and possibly acted on at the Aug. 27 meeting of the state legislature's regulation review committee.
Rubenstein said that if the revisions are approved, the state will put out information as to how potential operators of dispensaries can apply. The law allows for at least three, but no more than 10, dispensaries to operate in Connecticut.
"It's going to be a competitive process, so we'll determine which applications best meet the criteria," he said.
He estimated that licenses will be issued around the beginning of next year and that the dispensaries would be operating three to six months after that.
The report from the Office of Legislative Research stated that of the four states considered, Connecticut had the most restrictive qualifying conditions. For instance, Connecticut does not list chronic or severe pain as one of the conditions for which marijuana can be prescribed. The report also noted that Connecticut is the only one of the four states that doesn't allow patients to grow marijuana or allow anyone under 18 to use marijuana.
Medical marijuana is new to the state, but Rubenstein said the state has made sure to approach it as it would any other controlled pharmaceutical.
"This is not an entirely new system for us," he said. "There are lots of other controlled pharmaceutical substances made in the state. We understand what the protocol is. We're not expecting any glitches."
While the medical marijuana bill was still being debated last year, the Connecticut State Medical Society was among its most vocal opponents. Ken Ferrucci, vice president of public policy and government affairs for the organization, said the society hasn't changed its position, but is now focused on monitoring how the laws are implemented. One of his main concerns, Ferrucci said, was that physicians don't put themselves at legal risk.
"We want to make sure that physicians who do opt to take advantage of the law aren't prosecuted," he said. "There's still a discrepancy between state and federal governments."
The Obama administration has been vague on federal law enforcement in states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use or allowed it for medical use. Federal prosecutors in California have brought charges against some sellers of medical marijuana.
In December, Attorney General Eric Holder acknowledged a "tension between federal law and these state laws" and said a clarification of federal policy would come "relatively soon."
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: courant.com
Author: William Weir
Contact: Contact Us - Courant.com
Website: Medical Marijuana: Hundreds in Connecticut have been certified by doctors to possess marijuana for medical purposes - Courant.com
