Massachusetts cannabis regulators are considering allowing out-of-state patients to access the state’s medical cannabis program, WBUR reports.
A proposal introduced at an October 22 commission meeting would allow adults aged 18 and older who are diagnosed with a “debilitating medical condition” by a certified health professional in Massachusetts to register for the program, regardless of which state they live in.
“Simply put, it is a really effective way and a thoughtful way for us to give medical patients across the country more access to treatment for any of the reasons that they’re using marijuana for medicinal purposes.” — Cannabis Control Commissioner Xiomara DeLobato, in the report
Medical cannabis access has been legalized in 41 states and Washington, D.C., and many of the state programs allow for the participation of out-of-state patients. If approved, Massachusetts would join other New England states that allow for reciprocity for out-of-state patients, including New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and Maine.
Jeremiah MacKinnon, the president and executive director of the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance, lauded the regulators’ plan as “a step in the right direction to modernize our medical program.”
“For the past few years, the medical marijuana market has been struggling, and so to expand the pool of patients that are able to access medical marijuana in the state, I think is a positive thing for the health and long-term stability of the industry,” MacKinnon told WBUR.
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