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Could New York’s Medical Marijuana Program Get Terminated?

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New York was expected to bring in about $1 million its first year in marijuana tax revenue. The slow start to the program stunted its expectations, so it only brought in about half of a million dollars. The high cost of medicine and lack of certifying doctors are said to be two of the biggest issues with the program.

Some are questioning the sustainability of the state’s program as it stands now, according to WHEC 10 News.  Patients are still having trouble finding doctors to certify them. New York has just over 16,000 registered medical marijuana patients and 935 registered physicians. Not all of the state’s patients have actually visited a dispensary yet and only half have gone to a dispensary more than one time.

Cost is the biggest factor, according to Christopher Bell who is the director of the Monroe County Medical Society.

Bell said, “It is still pretty expensive in New York State. For example, a patient who has a form of epilepsy and may suffer from seizures that cost that patient for the appropriate amount may be around $180 a day which is $65,000 to $66,000 a year.”

Comparing cost, the same products would cost someone in Colorado about $14/day and in California about $28/day.

Some say the program is just too restrictive.

Governor Cuomo hopes that the recent expansion to the state’s program will help bring costs down for patients.

Governor Cuomo said, “That is something we are studying; this is a bit of an experiment for everyone. There is a strong feeling that there was a benefit of medical marijuana for people that needed it, and they couldn’t get it.”

Cuomo also said, “In this state if you are suffering with a disease and medical marijuana can help you we wanted to get it to you. What is the long-term economic viability of the industry of medical marijuana? That we are going to find out as we go forward.”

Changes to the program will be done as needed, according to the Governor. No expansions are being discussed right now.