NY Issues Rules For Medical Marijuana Program

Cancer, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis are among the conditions for which New Yorkers can apply for the statewide medical marijuana program expected to start next year.

Also in the list posted by the Health Department Tuesday night are spinal cord injuries, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathies and Huntington’s Disease and symptoms including severe or chronic pain, seizures, severe nausea, persistent muscle spasms and wasting syndrome.

Under the law signed last July, patients with those diseases will be able to obtain non-smokeable versions of the drug, which can be ingested or vaporized. It authorize the health commissioner to add other conditions.

Approved products will be limited to liquids, oils or capsules.

The rules call for licensing five businesses or nonprofits in New York to grow, process and distribute the drug. Applicants have to pay a $10,000 fee for review. Those selected would pay an additional $200,000 registration fee and meet security guidelines. The licenses would be for two years.

There are currently plans for only 20 dispensaries statewide and no specific provisions for locations or shipping, and prices will be set by the department instead of the market, with no specific provision for low-income patients.

This article appeared in print on page 4 of the April 2nd, 2015 edition of Hamodia.