Medical Marijuana Update

Mississippi patients are going to catch a break starting next month, and more.

Connecticut

Connecticut Medical Marijuana Board of Physicians Approves Two New Qualifying Conditions. The Department of Consumer Protection has added two new conditions to the list of qualifying conditions for the Medical Marijuana Program. The conditions were unanimously approved Friday by the Medical Marijuana Program Board of Physicians.

The two conditions unanimously approved for individuals 18 and over to the program are: Autism Spectrum Disorder and Female Orgasmic Difficulty/Disorder.

"Thank you to the petitioners who gave thoughtful and well-researched presentations to the Board, and shared their personal stories with these conditions," said DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli. "I would also like to thank the Board of Physicians for volunteering their time to share their medical expertise, and for their thoughtful questions and consideration of the petitions."

There are currently 39,749 medical marijuana patients, and 1,816 certifying physicians registered with the state’s program. There are 42 conditions that qualify adult patients for medical marijuana, and 11 conditions that qualify patients under 18. The Board of Physicians consists of nine members.

Qualifying patients and their caregivers registered with the Medical Marijuana Program can purchase medical marijuana products at medical marijuana dispensary facilities and hybrid retailers.

• Medical marijuana is not subject to sales and excise tax at dispensary facilities and hybrid retailers.
• Medical Marijuana Patients receive priority entry at hybrid retailers.
• Medical Marijuana Patients may purchase up to 5 ounces per month.
• Certain products, including those with higher potency and some dosage forms, are only available to registered medical marijuana patients.

Those who wish to petition the Board of Physicians to add a debilitating condition to qualify for medical marijuana may visit DCP's Medical Marijuana Program website at http://ct.gov/dcp/mmp to read about the process. Any questions can be directed via email to [email protected].

Mississippi

Mississippi Medical Marijuana Patients Will Catch a Break Next Month. Beginning July 1, medical marijuana patients will be able to procure a month's worth of their medicine at a time. The state caps patients' medical marijuana purchases at 21 grams per week, so that means patients will now be able to purchase up to 84 grams (three ounces) in one trip.

The change is thanks to the passage of Senate Bill 2857, authored by State Senator Kevin Blackwell (R).

Bill supporters successfully argued that the change was necessary to accommodate patients who live far from a dispensary. Under the state's medical marijuana program, cities and counties can decide whether or not to allow dispensaries in their localities, and 80 cities and 17 counties have chosen not to allow them, leaving some patients stuck having to go considerable distances to find one.

"For instance, a patient with a debilitating condition might have to drive 45 minutes one way to go to a dispensary, and then have to do that every week of the month," said Rep. Lee Yancey (R), a key member of the House Drug Policy Committee. "It was a hardship on them to be able to get their medicine. You can get a month’s supply of opioids, so why not get a month's supply of medical cannabis if you already have a card from a practitioner confirming that you have debilitating condition?" Yancey said.