Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Medical marijuana was legalized in New York State in 2016. But LIBN readers haven't yet seen the program flourish in their personal experiences.
That's according to a recent informal poll on libn.com. In response to the question, "Do you know someone who has purchased medical marijuana in New York?" nearly three quarters of all respondents said they do not.
Of those responded 'no,' 30 percent — or 22 percent of all respondents — said they know of people who have purchased the product in another state.
About 26 percent of all respondents said they know someone who has bought cannabis for medicinal use in New York. Of those, only about 8 percent said they bought the product themselves.
The results aren't a complete surprise. New York State's medical cannabis program has been an industry disappointment, pulling in only $600,000 in total tax revenue in its first 15 months. In comparison, California pulled in $50 million in just the first six months of 2016, according to a report by LIBN.
There are a limited number of locations authorized to purchase cannabis for medicinal use in New York, and cannabis products are prohibited to be sold in raw flower or edible forms in the state. The approved products are also pricier in New York — a .5 ml vape oil cartridge from one authorized New York producer costs $94, while a similar product can be purchased in California for $25 and $35 in Nevada, as reported by LIBN.
"It's unfair," Landon Dais, political director for the Marijuana Policy Project of New York, told LIBN. "It's a very viable medicine that is not affordable to most people. It has to be opened up. It's not just for the haves. It should also be for the have-nots."
Research also has shown cannabis can be used to treat medical conditions currently treated by highly addictive opioids, sometimes more effectively.
LIBN reader Joel Mason commented that his son struggles to obtain medical marijuana despite being approved for its use to treat his seizures, which he's suffered from for nearly four decades.
"My son lives in a group home on Long Island. The issue is state rules prohibit storing or administering medical marijuana in a group home," Mason said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical marijuana not readily available in NY, LIBN readers say – Long Island Business News
Author: Jenna Macri
Contact: Contact us – Long Island Business News
Photo Credit: AP
Website: Long Island Business News – The premier source of Long Island news and data on business, economic trends and the region’s robust entrepreneurial sector.
That's according to a recent informal poll on libn.com. In response to the question, "Do you know someone who has purchased medical marijuana in New York?" nearly three quarters of all respondents said they do not.
Of those responded 'no,' 30 percent — or 22 percent of all respondents — said they know of people who have purchased the product in another state.
About 26 percent of all respondents said they know someone who has bought cannabis for medicinal use in New York. Of those, only about 8 percent said they bought the product themselves.
The results aren't a complete surprise. New York State's medical cannabis program has been an industry disappointment, pulling in only $600,000 in total tax revenue in its first 15 months. In comparison, California pulled in $50 million in just the first six months of 2016, according to a report by LIBN.
There are a limited number of locations authorized to purchase cannabis for medicinal use in New York, and cannabis products are prohibited to be sold in raw flower or edible forms in the state. The approved products are also pricier in New York — a .5 ml vape oil cartridge from one authorized New York producer costs $94, while a similar product can be purchased in California for $25 and $35 in Nevada, as reported by LIBN.
"It's unfair," Landon Dais, political director for the Marijuana Policy Project of New York, told LIBN. "It's a very viable medicine that is not affordable to most people. It has to be opened up. It's not just for the haves. It should also be for the have-nots."
Research also has shown cannabis can be used to treat medical conditions currently treated by highly addictive opioids, sometimes more effectively.
LIBN reader Joel Mason commented that his son struggles to obtain medical marijuana despite being approved for its use to treat his seizures, which he's suffered from for nearly four decades.
"My son lives in a group home on Long Island. The issue is state rules prohibit storing or administering medical marijuana in a group home," Mason said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical marijuana not readily available in NY, LIBN readers say – Long Island Business News
Author: Jenna Macri
Contact: Contact us – Long Island Business News
Photo Credit: AP
Website: Long Island Business News – The premier source of Long Island news and data on business, economic trends and the region’s robust entrepreneurial sector.
