Medical marijuana is set to become more accessible for specific groups of patients starting from Sunday, March 31. These groups include cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis patients, those with Parkinson’s syndrome, Tourette’s syndrome, HIV, epilepsy, dementia, terminally ill patients, and individuals diagnosed with the autism spectrum.
The reform aims to simplify access to medical marijuana and remove intermediaries who charge additional fees to expedite the process of obtaining a license for marijuana purchase. Prescriptions will be electronic and can be written by a specialist doctor up to a year in advance. Additionally, the reform will make it easier for those who still require a license to access medical marijuana, eliminating the requirement to exhaust all other treatment methods before using it.
With these changes, the goal is to make access to medical marijuana more efficient and beneficial for patients in need. The distinction of medical marijuana as a “last line” drug has been eliminated streamlining the process for those who need it. This reform will help alleviate pain and suffering for many people who have been struggling with debilitating conditions that have not responded well to traditional treatments.
