SAVINO ANNOUNCES NEW PACKAGE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILLS

Four new bills would expand patient access and increase the number of trained physicians across the state

State Senator Diane Savino announced a new package of bills today, aimed at expanding patient access and increasing the number of trained and available treating physicians.

The package would increase patient access hindered by access to dispensaries, as well as address concerns about an insufficient number of available doctors by encouraging more doctors to sign up for the program. The bills would also double the number of available dispensaries, expand the list of qualifying conditions, direct the Department of Health to add nurses and physician assistants, and establish an advisory committee on the program’s  regulatory development.

“I made history by passing the first medical marijuana program in New York - and have been proud to lead on this issue as we implement the program throughout the state. However, it is not enough to make this medicine theoretically available, it must also be pragmatically accessible. Now is the time to take this program further - and that’s exactly what this package will do. With my new legislation, we will be able to help patients in need become certified more easily, ensure that more of those suffering are eligible to become certified, allow each doctor to treat their patients as they see fit, and make this necessary medicine accessible to more people throughout the state,” said Senator Diane Savino.

The first bill would double the number of dispensaries throughout the state and allow direct education and marketing from companies to physician, in order to engage more doctors. Current law allows each organization licensed to distribute medical marijuana to maintain only four dispensaries each, leaving many geographic areas of the state without practical access to the medicine. Senator Savino’s legislation would double this, allowing each licensed organization to have eight dispensaries. It would also allow these organizations to approach physicians directly, in order to provide education about medical marijuana to encourage more doctors to become trained in the program.

The current list of eligible diseases and conditions leaves patients in critical need of this medicine out in the cold. However, many of these conditions are already eligible for this treatment in other states. The second bill (S.6999) in the package would expand the current list to help more of those in need. The new list would include PTSD, in response to calls from veterans and veteran advocacy organizations, muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury, wasting syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

The legislation would also eliminate the ten milligram limit on THC per dose of medical marijuana, in order to allow doctors to treat their patients with the dosage they think is best, as well as address physician concerns that the dosage language of the law may be in conflict with existing federal law.

In an effort to expand access and available providers, the third bill (S.6998) would direct the Department of Health to add nurses and physician assistants to the list of professionals qualified to certify patients for medical marijuana use. These professionals are already able to prescribe other controlled substances under the law, however, currently only physicians are able to certify patients for medical marijuana. This legislation would allow physician assistants and nurses to undergo the same training as physicians, and thereafter certify patients, eliminating some of the difficulties in finding a cooperating physician for patients.

Implementation of the medical marijuana program has been a complex process, involving experts and professionals from a variety of industries, as well as patients and advocates. Providing an opportunity for all stakeholders to have a voice is critical to its success. The fourth piece of legislation (S.7000) would create an advisory committee of 15 members to assist in the program’s regulatory development by the Department of Health.

The committee would advise the Commissioner, as well as establish a subcommittee specializing in clinical matters. The bill would also assure that regulations remain consistent with the current law and it’s intent, as well as recognize patients certified in other states. By establishing an advisory committee, ensuring that regulations remain consistent with the intent of the law, and recognizing patients from other states, this legislation would increase the overall efficiency of the program.