New York doctors are now permitted to have much more latitude in prescribing medical marijuana to their patients.
ALBANY — Media reports from New York state have indicated that medical professionals now have greater leeway to prescribe medical marijuana to their patients. The policy is currently approved for any member of the state’s medical community to approve scripts for anyone with any condition they see fit.
“It is terrific to see the Medical Cannabis Program expand so vastly with the launch of the new certification and registration program and the ability of practitioners to determine qualifying conditions as included in the [Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act],” said Tremaine Wright, the chair of the Cannabis Control Board, in a press statement released on January 24, 2022.
“The new cannabis industry is taking shape as we continue to implement the MRTA and provide greater access for New Yorkers to a medicine that we’re learning more about every day. We’re continuing to move forward swiftly and today’s system launch follows our achievements that already include adding whole flower medical product sales, permanently waiving $50 patient fees, and advancing home cultivation regulations, among others.”
Chriss Alexander, the executive director of the State Office of Cannabis Management, added in the same statement that the adoption of new patient certification and registration system is a beneficial and robust change in statewide regulatory policy.
“We will continue to implement the MRTA and ensure that all New Yorkers who can benefit from medical cannabis have the access they need to do so,” he said.
“It’s important for New Yorkers to know that even as we shift the medical program to the OCM, your access will not be disrupted and the program will continue to expand,” notes Alexander.
“Patients certified through the new certification and registration system will be issued their certification from the OCM,” notes the office’s official statement.
“Certifications previously issued from the Department of Health continue to remain valid as long as they have not reached their expiration date. Those certifications will be re-issued from the OCM after said expiration. All current caregivers will be re-issued new registry ID cards with the patient’s name printed on them to better identify which patient(s) they are authorized to assist.”
