More changes are expected as the state of New York is shifting plans to its medical marijuana affairs. According to the Department of Health's announcement on Thursday, dispensaries are now permitted to sell marijuana (same as cannabis, weed or pot) to other dispensaries.
This move by the New York state is projected to produce more diversity of products purchasable to patients. The state also is easing the restriction of the count of the products that dispensaries could manufacture and market. The said changes are one of the several announcements the state made as it modify the medical marijuana system.
SF Gate reported that aside from the aforementioned announcements, nurse practitioners, as well as physician assistants, can now authorize patients for medical weed. New York state will also include chronic pain on the roster of justifying conditions.
Although New York state is easing some restrictions on its medical marijuana law, it is not in a rush to join the eight other states in welcoming its full legalization. Two of the latest states to do so are Maine and Massachusetts and so is California. However, Gov. Andrew Cuomo stays cynic of upfront recreational use and legalization tackles challenges too in the Legislature.
"It's unlikely to happen in the short term," predicted physician Kyle Kingsley, chairman of Vireo Health, one of five companies selected under New York's law to grow and sell cannabis for medical uses. "But I do think what's going on in Massachusetts, it helps knock down the stigma ... I think it's inevitable. It's just a matter of time."
As reported by NBC, the medical marijuana law in New York remains to have the most stringent rules compared to the more than 20 states that permit medical pot. One of its provisions is to make sure that the pot cannot be distributed in smokeable form and that physicians have finished the training course to acclaim the drug for patients.
In order to increase patient access, officials are alleviating some restrictions. The state concepts the idea of delivering the products to homes and adds ailments to the list of qualifying conditions which include multiple sclerosis, cancer, AIDS, and epilepsy.
