Medical Marijuana
Three months after Massachusetts voters legalized medical marijuana, the state is entering somewhat unchartered territory in enacting rules and regulations for the drug, which remains illegal under federal law. The Department of Public Health held two listening sessions last week, including one in Worcester, and will host another later this month.
How much support is there for the law?
Nearly two-thirds of voters approved the law, and many of the approximately 50 people who spoke in Worcester, including patients with debilitating health conditions, support it. They appealed to the DPH to expedite its rule-making process, noting that there are many who could benefit from safe and legal access to the drug. A common theme among speakers was that the state should be broad and flexible in its regulations, deferring to physicians to determine if a patient might benefit from marijuana.
What concerns do people have?
Some expressed worries about what message medical marijuana might send to children or teenagers — that it might lead them to think the drug is harmless. Others spoke about the security of dispensaries and the potential for the illegal diversion of medical marijuana to recreational users. Some were concerned about federal prosecution of dispensaries, which has happened in other states that have legalized the drug for medicinal purposes.
Meanwhile, local officials in Central Massachusetts called for the DPH to ensure that cities and towns can enact stricter regulations on dispensary siting and other factors. A number of area towns are looking at zoning restrictions. That includes Westborough, which is looking at a proposal to ban dispensaries in town.
What's role is industry playing?
The medical marijuana industry is quickly turning into a big business, generating $1.7 billion last year, according to SeeChange Consulting Inc. of Maryland. That number is expected to more than quadruple by 2016. A number of consultants and companies have flocked to Massachusetts to try to get a piece of the industry. Products and services mentioned at the Worcester forum ranged from medical marijuana dispensing machines to laboratory testing for contaminants and potency.
What happens next?
The DPH is aiming to release regulations in May, when it would hold public hearings. The department will not accept dispensary applications or issue patient cards until that process is complete, although it has begun to accept patient applications.
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