Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
More than 4,000 people have registered with the state to try to get medical marijuana for themselves or a loved one, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday.
The state just launched the registry for prospective medical marijuana patients a week ago.
"Since I signed medical marijuana into law in 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has been laser-focused on implementation," Wolf said. "The success of the patient registry one week since it was announced is another indicator of the need for this vital medication, and a testament to the department's commitment to making medical marijuana available to patients in 2018."
The new registry is the latest big step forward for the effort to get medical marijuana available to patients with one of 17 serious medical conditions, among them – epilepsy, cancer, glaucoma, Parkinson's disease, HIV and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
"The response from patients and caregivers has been extremely positive," Acting Secretary for the Department of Health and Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine said. "Right now, patients and caregivers across Pennsylvania can go to our website at medicalmarijuana.pa.gov and register to participate in the medical marijuana program. Their next step is to visit an approved doctor to become certified with the program."
While parents of sick children were among the most vocal proponents of the state's move to legalize medical marijuana, they represent just a fraction of the people who've registered with the state to seek access to the drug, according to data provided by the Department of Health.
Of the 4,000 people who've registered, 3,800 are adults seeking medical marijuana for themselves. About 200 of those who've registered are caregivers, including parents of children who suffer from ailments covered by the medical marijuana law.
Amy Houk, of New Castle, was among the parents who'd visited the Capitol to call on lawmakers to legalize medical marijuana.
Wednesday, Houk said she's yet to register to get medical marijuana for her son, Cameron.
Houk had obtained a Safe Harbor letter that allowed her to seek medical marijuana from other states while Pennsylvania got its program up and running. Her son didn't respond to the type of medical marijuana she was able to get him.
She plans to register and hopes that the medical marijuana program will allow doctors to conduct more research to help determine what type of medical marijuana will work for Cameron, she said.
The state last week announced that more than 100 doctors have been approved to see prospective medical marijuana patients, while another 200 physicians have started the process to get approved.
Among them was Dr. Richard Huskey of Shamokin.
Wednesday, Huskey said his office has probably gotten 30 calls from patients seeking medical marijuana since his practice was announced as one of those involved in the medical marijuana program.
"That's quite a bit," he said.
He plans to see patients with any of the ailments that qualify for medical marijuana, Huskey said. He's seen people that he believes could have benefited if medical marijuana had been available to them, he said.
For instance, people with end-stage cancer can suffer from terrible nausea, he said.
"That's one of the great destroyers of quality of life," he said. There's ample evidence that medical marijuana will help relieve the nausea, Huskey said. "We haven't been able to use it because of this ridiculous prohibition" banning the drug.
He added that he hopes that as the state allows people to use medical marijuana, the state will expand the number of conditions for which it can be used.
"This is just the tip of the iceberg," he said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Many in state seek medical marijuana | Pennsylvania | sharonherald.com
Author: JOHN FINNERTY
Contact: Contact Us | Site | sharonherald.com
Photo Credit: Getty
Website: sharonherald.com
The state just launched the registry for prospective medical marijuana patients a week ago.
"Since I signed medical marijuana into law in 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has been laser-focused on implementation," Wolf said. "The success of the patient registry one week since it was announced is another indicator of the need for this vital medication, and a testament to the department's commitment to making medical marijuana available to patients in 2018."
The new registry is the latest big step forward for the effort to get medical marijuana available to patients with one of 17 serious medical conditions, among them – epilepsy, cancer, glaucoma, Parkinson's disease, HIV and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
"The response from patients and caregivers has been extremely positive," Acting Secretary for the Department of Health and Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine said. "Right now, patients and caregivers across Pennsylvania can go to our website at medicalmarijuana.pa.gov and register to participate in the medical marijuana program. Their next step is to visit an approved doctor to become certified with the program."
While parents of sick children were among the most vocal proponents of the state's move to legalize medical marijuana, they represent just a fraction of the people who've registered with the state to seek access to the drug, according to data provided by the Department of Health.
Of the 4,000 people who've registered, 3,800 are adults seeking medical marijuana for themselves. About 200 of those who've registered are caregivers, including parents of children who suffer from ailments covered by the medical marijuana law.
Amy Houk, of New Castle, was among the parents who'd visited the Capitol to call on lawmakers to legalize medical marijuana.
Wednesday, Houk said she's yet to register to get medical marijuana for her son, Cameron.
Houk had obtained a Safe Harbor letter that allowed her to seek medical marijuana from other states while Pennsylvania got its program up and running. Her son didn't respond to the type of medical marijuana she was able to get him.
She plans to register and hopes that the medical marijuana program will allow doctors to conduct more research to help determine what type of medical marijuana will work for Cameron, she said.
The state last week announced that more than 100 doctors have been approved to see prospective medical marijuana patients, while another 200 physicians have started the process to get approved.
Among them was Dr. Richard Huskey of Shamokin.
Wednesday, Huskey said his office has probably gotten 30 calls from patients seeking medical marijuana since his practice was announced as one of those involved in the medical marijuana program.
"That's quite a bit," he said.
He plans to see patients with any of the ailments that qualify for medical marijuana, Huskey said. He's seen people that he believes could have benefited if medical marijuana had been available to them, he said.
For instance, people with end-stage cancer can suffer from terrible nausea, he said.
"That's one of the great destroyers of quality of life," he said. There's ample evidence that medical marijuana will help relieve the nausea, Huskey said. "We haven't been able to use it because of this ridiculous prohibition" banning the drug.
He added that he hopes that as the state allows people to use medical marijuana, the state will expand the number of conditions for which it can be used.
"This is just the tip of the iceberg," he said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Many in state seek medical marijuana | Pennsylvania | sharonherald.com
Author: JOHN FINNERTY
Contact: Contact Us | Site | sharonherald.com
Photo Credit: Getty
Website: sharonherald.com
