Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Albany - Medical marijuana will soon be available to New Yorkers suffering from chronic pain.
The state Health Department said Thursday it is developing regulations to allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to patients with chronic pain, although it has yet to define what symptoms will qualify as chronic pain.
"Medical marijuana is already helping thousands of patients across New York state, and adding chronic pain as a qualifying condition will help more patients and further strengthen the program," state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said in a statement.
The health department said it developing a proposed regulatory amendment to the law that took effect in January that legalized medical marijuana in New York in non-smokeable forms and for specific medical conditions.
The amendment will be published for public comment "shortly," the agency said.
The state has 10 conditions that qualify for medical marijuana usage: cancer, HIV infection or AIDS; Lou Gehrig's disease; Parkinson's disease; multiple sclerosis; spinal damage; epilepsy; inflammatory bowel disease; neuropathies; and Huntington's disease.
The move is the latest loosening of New York's medical marijuana law, which is among the most stringent in the nation and has drawn criticism from patients and advocates for its restrictiveness.
Last month, the health department agreed to let nurse practitioners prescribe the drug, and it's in the process of letting physician assistants do so as well.
To prescribe medical marijuana, medical professionals need to take an online course. Patients then need to get approval from their doctor and enroll online.
New York has five certified companies that grow and sell marijuana, and each has four dispensaries.
The state is also considering expanding the number of companies that can sell and grow medical marijuana - as well as making public the list of doctors who can prescribe the drug.
About 750 physicians have registered to prescribe medical marijuana, and 10,730 patients have been certified by their doctors, the health department said.
For more information about the program, visit: New York State Medical Marijuana Program
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical Marijuana In NY Soon Available For Chronic Pain
Author: Joseph Spector
Contact: webmaster@WGRZ.com
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: WGRZ
The state Health Department said Thursday it is developing regulations to allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to patients with chronic pain, although it has yet to define what symptoms will qualify as chronic pain.
"Medical marijuana is already helping thousands of patients across New York state, and adding chronic pain as a qualifying condition will help more patients and further strengthen the program," state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said in a statement.
The health department said it developing a proposed regulatory amendment to the law that took effect in January that legalized medical marijuana in New York in non-smokeable forms and for specific medical conditions.
The amendment will be published for public comment "shortly," the agency said.
The state has 10 conditions that qualify for medical marijuana usage: cancer, HIV infection or AIDS; Lou Gehrig's disease; Parkinson's disease; multiple sclerosis; spinal damage; epilepsy; inflammatory bowel disease; neuropathies; and Huntington's disease.
The move is the latest loosening of New York's medical marijuana law, which is among the most stringent in the nation and has drawn criticism from patients and advocates for its restrictiveness.
Last month, the health department agreed to let nurse practitioners prescribe the drug, and it's in the process of letting physician assistants do so as well.
To prescribe medical marijuana, medical professionals need to take an online course. Patients then need to get approval from their doctor and enroll online.
New York has five certified companies that grow and sell marijuana, and each has four dispensaries.
The state is also considering expanding the number of companies that can sell and grow medical marijuana - as well as making public the list of doctors who can prescribe the drug.
About 750 physicians have registered to prescribe medical marijuana, and 10,730 patients have been certified by their doctors, the health department said.
For more information about the program, visit: New York State Medical Marijuana Program
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical Marijuana In NY Soon Available For Chronic Pain
Author: Joseph Spector
Contact: webmaster@WGRZ.com
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: WGRZ
