Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Since the state started allowing chronic pain patients to use medical marijuana in late March, more than 7,500 have signed up for the state’s program.
As of June 22, that brought the total number of patients certified to use medical marijuana for qualifying conditions to 22,496 — a 50 percent increase — according to the New York State Department of Health.
Nurse practitioner Brenda Carney, who is registered with the state to certify patients for medical marijuana in her New Hartford practice, said she treats patients in pain.
“We took over a practice that had quite a high number of opiate users,” she said. “We found that a lot of individuals with chronic pain and diabetic radiculopathy, they were really, really struggling with a lot of discomfort and pain.”
Many tried different treatments without success, she said.
“Since there’s been an explosion of opiate overdose and overuse and trouble nationwide, we really felt that one of the best things for us to do was to be able to proceed with this medical marijuana instead,” Carney said.
Carney only has been registered to certify medical marijuana patients for a couple of months, she said. That’s because nurse practitioners and physician assistants have only been allowed to certify patients since November. That decision, as well as the decision to let chronic pain patients take medical marijuana, have been two prongs in the state’s efforts to expand access to medical marijuana and use of the program. In the program’s early days, critics complained that it contained too many barriers, making it too hard for patients to get medical marijuana.
Carney also has agreed to participate in another part of the state’s efforts — a public list of providers willing to certify patients for medical marijuana. The list was first posted online in May. Another longer list has been available for doctors who want to refer patients for medical marijuana certification since February 2016.
The list has helped, said Kate Hintz, state director of Compassionate Care New York.
“Although the list is only partial, I immediately heard comments from patients that they were able to find doctors that were closer to them, sometimes in the same town or city the patient lived in,” she said.
As of June 22, 1,066 health care providers were registered with the state’s medical marijuana program. Of those, 60 percent were listed so that other providers can see their names and 32 percent appeared on the public list. In Oneida County, there are five providers on the public list. There is one in Madison County and none in Herkimer and Otsego counties.
“We’ve gotten a number of calls for it,” Carney said. “And it’s very interesting because the population that we’re getting are baby boomers. ... It’s more individuals that are middle aged or elderly. The individuals that I have been registering, gosh, they’re in the 60- and 70-year-old ranges.”
In another attempt to bolster the program, the state Department of Health announced in June that it has streamlined the process by which providers sign up for the medical marijuana program; they can register online and start certifying patients the same day. And earlier this month, the state Senate passed a bill that had been passed by the Assembly in May to add PTSD to the list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana. The bill awaits the governor’s signature.
Dr. Nathan Keever, a family doctor in Oriskany Falls who is listed on the public list of doctors willing to certify patients for medical marijuana, praised the state for taking at least part of the list public. He said he treats one cancer patient and the rest of his medical marijuana patients have chronic pain.
“They are suggesting it far more often than I am because I am not in the pain business,” he said.
Despite the progress, though, barriers remain, Hintz said.
“Currently, I believe the biggest barrier to access is the price of products,” she said. ”(Compassionate Care New York) receives numerous messages and emails from patients that cannot afford to purchase any of the products offered by the current companies. The high pricing structure is unaffordable for patients all over the state, including most middle or average-income families. The range of prices people are being asked to pay is anywhere from $400 to $2,000 per month.”
Keever pointed out that marijuana’s effectiveness hasn’t been tested as much as many medications; he puts the evidence at the low end, he said.
“I think it’s most important that this is no miracle drug,” he said. “There is no such thing as a free lunch. It has its own side effects. It’s no miracle. But it’s nice to have something else in your toolbox.”
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: State growing medical marijuana program - News - Uticaod - Utica, NY
Author: Amy Neff Roth
Contact: Contact - Utica, NY - Uticaod
Photo Credit: Kyle Nelson
Website: Uticaod: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Utica, NY
As of June 22, that brought the total number of patients certified to use medical marijuana for qualifying conditions to 22,496 — a 50 percent increase — according to the New York State Department of Health.
Nurse practitioner Brenda Carney, who is registered with the state to certify patients for medical marijuana in her New Hartford practice, said she treats patients in pain.
“We took over a practice that had quite a high number of opiate users,” she said. “We found that a lot of individuals with chronic pain and diabetic radiculopathy, they were really, really struggling with a lot of discomfort and pain.”
Many tried different treatments without success, she said.
“Since there’s been an explosion of opiate overdose and overuse and trouble nationwide, we really felt that one of the best things for us to do was to be able to proceed with this medical marijuana instead,” Carney said.
Carney only has been registered to certify medical marijuana patients for a couple of months, she said. That’s because nurse practitioners and physician assistants have only been allowed to certify patients since November. That decision, as well as the decision to let chronic pain patients take medical marijuana, have been two prongs in the state’s efforts to expand access to medical marijuana and use of the program. In the program’s early days, critics complained that it contained too many barriers, making it too hard for patients to get medical marijuana.
Carney also has agreed to participate in another part of the state’s efforts — a public list of providers willing to certify patients for medical marijuana. The list was first posted online in May. Another longer list has been available for doctors who want to refer patients for medical marijuana certification since February 2016.
The list has helped, said Kate Hintz, state director of Compassionate Care New York.
“Although the list is only partial, I immediately heard comments from patients that they were able to find doctors that were closer to them, sometimes in the same town or city the patient lived in,” she said.
As of June 22, 1,066 health care providers were registered with the state’s medical marijuana program. Of those, 60 percent were listed so that other providers can see their names and 32 percent appeared on the public list. In Oneida County, there are five providers on the public list. There is one in Madison County and none in Herkimer and Otsego counties.
“We’ve gotten a number of calls for it,” Carney said. “And it’s very interesting because the population that we’re getting are baby boomers. ... It’s more individuals that are middle aged or elderly. The individuals that I have been registering, gosh, they’re in the 60- and 70-year-old ranges.”
In another attempt to bolster the program, the state Department of Health announced in June that it has streamlined the process by which providers sign up for the medical marijuana program; they can register online and start certifying patients the same day. And earlier this month, the state Senate passed a bill that had been passed by the Assembly in May to add PTSD to the list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana. The bill awaits the governor’s signature.
Dr. Nathan Keever, a family doctor in Oriskany Falls who is listed on the public list of doctors willing to certify patients for medical marijuana, praised the state for taking at least part of the list public. He said he treats one cancer patient and the rest of his medical marijuana patients have chronic pain.
“They are suggesting it far more often than I am because I am not in the pain business,” he said.
Despite the progress, though, barriers remain, Hintz said.
“Currently, I believe the biggest barrier to access is the price of products,” she said. ”(Compassionate Care New York) receives numerous messages and emails from patients that cannot afford to purchase any of the products offered by the current companies. The high pricing structure is unaffordable for patients all over the state, including most middle or average-income families. The range of prices people are being asked to pay is anywhere from $400 to $2,000 per month.”
Keever pointed out that marijuana’s effectiveness hasn’t been tested as much as many medications; he puts the evidence at the low end, he said.
“I think it’s most important that this is no miracle drug,” he said. “There is no such thing as a free lunch. It has its own side effects. It’s no miracle. But it’s nice to have something else in your toolbox.”
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: State growing medical marijuana program - News - Uticaod - Utica, NY
Author: Amy Neff Roth
Contact: Contact - Utica, NY - Uticaod
Photo Credit: Kyle Nelson
Website: Uticaod: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Utica, NY
