Truth or Fiction: MMJ in NY

Medical Marijuana or Cannabis is all the buzz but the regulations among the different states are a patchwork of varying regulations creating confusion! The Medical Marijuana Program in New York is fairly new. One could say it is “more strict” than say California. While lawmakers have prohibited smoking cannabis or eating edibles in NY, qualified patients are free to choose from vaporized oil cartridges, capsules, and oral tinctures at local dispensaries. Furthermore, only registered marijuana practitioners in New York State are allowed to provide “recommendations” to qualified patients. It is illegal to prescribe medical marijuana in New York City or anywhere in the US because medical cannabis is considered by the government to be a schedule 1 narcotic and is not federally endorsed. That is correct! It is illegal to prescribe MMJ.

So who is qualified to receive MMJ? Well, for one thing we did a pretty good job of explaining this on our website: MedicalMarijuanaRecsNY.Com! But let’s explore one very common condition that millions of Americans suffer from: Chronic Pain.

Chronic Pain

• The New York Medical Marijuana Program allows NY patients with Chronic Pain to qualify for MMJ if they have severe debilitating pain which degrades their health and functional capability OR if they have documentation of contraindications, intolerable side effects or have experienced failure of one or more previously tried therapeutic option AND have documented evidence of pain extending 3 months or more beyond onset OR have a practitioner reasonably anticipate that the pain will last 3 months or more beyond onset. That is a mouthful! You might wonder how this relates to you. Well, if you have, for example, a herniated disc that severely limits your walking or working, for a good three months or more and your provider feels that it will likely be there 3 months from now, you may qualify! But wait! You must have not just have the condition of Chronic Pain, but an associated complication. This most likely will be Chronic Pain, as well, but can also be severe muscle spasms or significant unintended weight loss to name a couple.

Lauraine Kanders NP and the practitioners understand the intricacies of the New York Medical Marijuana Program and the clinical implications for application. Peruse the website and decide if this is for you. MMJ may just be what you need to better manage your chronic pain.