New York State launches medical marijuana program

PRESS RELEASE

The New York State Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday announced the State’s Medical Marijuana Program will launch on January 7 as scheduled — 18 months after Governor Cuomo signed the Compassionate Care Act. The program will make approved forms of medical marijuana available with a physician’s certification at designated dispensaries across New York State, including one in White Plains.

The program provides access to medical marijuana to certified patients suffering from cancer, HIV/AIDS, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, intractable spasticity caused by damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathies and Huntington’s disease.

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, “Our program ensures the availability of pharmaceutical-grade medical marijuana products for certified patients and establishes strict regulatory controls to protect public health and safety.”

Patients who may qualify for the program are strongly encouraged to talk to their doctors about whether medical marijuana can benefit them. Nearly 150 doctors from across the state have already registered for the program and can certify their patients, if clinically appropriate for their qualifying condition consistent with the DOH’s guidance and regulations.

In order to obtain medical marijuana, a patient must receive a DOH Medical Marijuana Program certification from a registered physician. The patient must then access DOH’s online Patient Registration System to apply for a registry identification card. Additional information regarding registration can be found at: http://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/patients/.

Locations of dispensing facilities can be found on the DOH website: http://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/application/selected_applicants.htm.