In many states, patients have to pay substantial fees for participating in legal, medical cannabis programs. Massachusetts is one of those states. Prior to a recent change in laws, patients were required to pay an annual $50 fee to obtain and renew their patient registration card. For many patients who are in low-income families, being able to pay this fee was an extra burden that shouldn’t have to be.
In September the state Cannabis Control Commission adopted new policy changes that eliminated this required fee. This came with great applause and a sigh of relief for many patients throughout the state. The Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance spearheaded this initiative. Chairman Steven J. Hoffman of the Cannabis Control Commission stated the following regarding this change.
“Throughout the regulatory process, the Commission relied on the expertise of colleagues and staff who have been on the ground implementing the legal marketplace as well as the valuable experiences and feedback of patients, consumers, residents, and businesses. As a result, the new regulations bring expansions and improvements to the adult and medical use of marijuana programs that will bolster public health and safety, promote access to and participation in the industry, and support small businesses in our state.”
This isn’t the only significant change that has come to the Massachusetts medical cannabis program this year. In July, changes went into effect that allows patients to receive their doctor recommendation and then immediately be able to visit a state-licensed dispensary to obtain cannabinoid-based medicines.
While patients are still required to file for a permanent card, this change in policy eliminates the sometimes long wait periods that patients face between the time they receive their recommendation and when they receive their patient card in the mail. The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission spearheaded this initiative.
Veriheal has satisfied hundreds of thousands of patients nationwide
Other great news coming from the state include the recent approval of cannabis delivery services and canna cafes! This change will allow patients to have cannabis delivered directly to their doorstep. A benefit that we expect patients will take advantage of as traveling to a dispensary is hard for many.
This two-year social consumption pilot program will allow for licenses to be issued to minority business owners and individuals from low-income areas of the state. As you can imagine, though, there are some regulations and rules regarding what is and isn’t allowed.
Canna cafes can only be open, and deliveries can only take place between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., there are no deliveries allowed to college dorms, limitations have been placed on purchases of edibles, and smokable cannabis products can only be consumed outdoors are a few of these restrictions.
At this time, Springfield, Somerville, Provincetown, North Adams, and Amherst have agreed to take part in the pilot program. Having a place to purchase and consume cannabis legally is something that the majority of all medical and recreational programs lack at this time. Canna cafes will allow people to relax and socialize with likeminded individuals and are something most consumers and patients will take advantage of.
Speaking of patients, let’s take a look at the stats of just how big the Massachusetts Medical Marijuana program is. As reported in the “Medical Use of Marijuana Program monthly dashboards” provided by mass.gov, there are 59,288 patients registered in the state program along with 7,005 active caregivers, and 66,945 active healthcare provider certifications.
These stats are as of May 31st, 2019. As you can imagine, all of the recent changes listed above are great news for the nearly 60,000 patients that have chosen cannabis as their medicine in the state of Massachusetts. Are you a resident of the state and looking to obtain your medical cannabis recommendation? If so check out the services offered by Veriheal today!
Have you ever become so involved with an activity that you forget about about everything else? Did this leave you feeling like you were completely present or “in the zone”? In positive psychology, such experiences characterize a state known as “flow.” Flow is a cognitive state where a person is completely immersed in an activity,…
Navigating the laws on traveling with medical marijuana (MMJ) is incredibly confusing with the current global stance on cannabis. In the U.S., some states are okay with you bringing your medicine with you as long as you can prove your patient status, while other states are staunchly against it altogether, leaving MMJ patients in a…
Cannabis edibles are a preferred method of consuming cannabis by both retail consumers and medical cannabis patients alike. But just how long do they last? Let’s explore the shelf life of edibles, how to store them, and what to do if they go bad. What Are Edibles? Common Types of Edibles How Long Do Edibles…
People have been smoking joints for a long time. The first rolling papers surfaced around the early 1500s in Alcoy, Spain. These weren’t like the rolling papers we know today though. To start, these papers were intended for tobacco, not cannabis. They were made of hemp along with other textiles and lacked an adhesive gum…
Just in time for the holidays, the Jet Lag strain brings a smoking experience completely different than what the name suggests. Jet Lag is an energizing sativa that settles into a creative, silly high. And for an anxious flower-lover like me, this strain was the first step in my journey to finding the perfect cannabis…
