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PTSD has PASSED the Senate Health Committee! We are one step closer!

May 9th 12:55pm • 11 Comments

✔︎✔︎✔︎ ACTION ALERT: PTSD VOTE TOMORROW 5/9!
Tomorrow the Senate Health Committee will vote on a bill adding PTSD to New York’s current medical marijuana program. The bill must pass through Health Committee to move forward in the legislature! We need phone calls generated to these Senate members. Here is all you need to say:

“Hi, My name is __________ and I’m calling to urge Senator ________ to vote YES tomorrow on bill S.5629. This bill would add PTSD to New York’s medical marijuana program.”

Some additional information:
• Only 3 states out of 29 with marijuana programs do not specifically cover PTSD: Vermont, New Hampshire, and NY!
• PTSD impacts thousands of people including active and retired military, rape victims, domestic violence victims, victims of violent crime, and 9/11 victims
• PTSD occurs when an individual develops symptoms such as anger, flashbacks, nightmares, night sweats, numbing, insomnia, and avoidance after experiencing a traumatic event. These symptoms can contribute to the high rate of suicide among people with PTSD.

☎️ PLEASE HELP US MAKE SOME CALLS FOR TOMORROW's VOTE:
Simcha Felder (D) (518) 455-2754
Martin Golden (R) (518) 455-2730
Kemp Hannon (R) 518-455-2200
Brad Hoylman (D) (518) 455-2451
Chris Jacobs (R) 518 455-3240
Todd Kaminsky (R) 518-455-3401
William Larkin (R) (518) 455-2770
Betty Little (R) (518) 455-2811
Velmanette Montgomery (D) (518) 455-345
Terrance Murphy (R) 518-455-3111
Roxanne Persaud (D) 518-455-2788
Patty Richie (R) (518) 455-3438
Gustavo Rivera (D) 518-455-3395
James Seward (R) (518) 455-3131
Toby Ann Stavisky (D) (518) 455-3461
James Tedisco (R) 518-455-2181
David Valesky (D) 518-455-2838

Not sure who your Senator is? Search here: https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator

Find My Senator

nysenate.gov

May 8th 11:20am • 4 Comments

A public list of physicians is now available, see this announcement from the DOH:

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ADDS THOUSANDS OF NEW PATIENTS TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM FOLLOWING THE ADDITION OF CHRONIC PAIN

MORE THAN 3,000 PATIENTS CERTIFIED SINCE CHRONIC PAIN ADDED AS QUALIFYING CONDITION

NEARLY 1,000 PRACTITIONERS REGISTERED WITH THE PROGRAM

PUBLIC LIST OF REGISTERED PRACTITIONERS NOW AVAILABLE

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 5, 2017) The New York State Department of Health today announced several milestones in the state’s Medical Marijuana program, including the certification of more than 3,350 patients since the addition of chronic pain as a qualifying condition in late March, the registration of nearly 1,000 practitioners, and the publication of a list of registered practitioners who have consented to be listed publicly.

“We are improving access to medical marijuana for patients in need across New York State,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker. “As we have said from the very beginning, we will continue to grow this program responsibly and help ease the suffering of those who may benefit from this treatment option.”

INCREASE IN PATIENTS

In late March 2017, the Department expanded the Medical Marijuana program to include chronic pain as a qualifying condition. The addition of chronic pain to the other ten qualifying conditions has led to an increase in the number of certified patients and strengthened the program.

Since the addition of chronic pain, an additional 3,356 patients have become certified for the program, representing an 18% increase. As of May 5, 18,348 patients in total are certified for the program.

ADDITIONAL PRACTITIONERS

The Department has taken definitive steps to expand patient access in communities throughout New York State. Central to that effort is increasing the number of health care providers who are registered to certify patients for the Medical Marijuana program.

Over the past seven months, the Department has enhanced the medical marijuana program by empowering nurse practitioners and physician assistants to join physicians in their ability to certify patients for medical marijuana. These additions have increased the number of registered practitioners by ten percent. As of May 5, 995 practitioners are registered to certify patients for medical marijuana.

PUBLIC LIST OF REGISTERED PRACTITIONERS

A public list of registered practitioners will help New Yorkers with debilitating illnesses better identify and access this treatment option. A list of practitioners registered with New York’s Medical Marijuana program who have consented to be publicly listed is now available on the Department’s website at: https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/practitioner/public_list.htm.

The Department is prohibited from publicly posting a registered practitioner’s information without that practitioner’s consent.

In addition to the public list of practitioners, a list of practitioners registered with the medical marijuana program on the Health Commerce System (HCS) has been available to health care providers since February 2016. Through this process, certified patients simply need to speak with their health care provider to find a registered practitioner.

The HCS is a web-based public health and immunization tracking system used by thousands of health care providers for a variety of applications. Most health care providers already have an HCS account, and can refer a patient to a practitioner registered with the program by logging on and accessing the available list. The HCS is only available to health care providers.

As of May 5, 60% percent of practitioners are listed through the HCS, while 32% percent are listed publicly.

Medical marijuana in New York can only be purchased at the dispensing facilities operated by the registered organizations. Medical marijuana is not available at practitioners’ offices, clinics, or hospitals. For a list of dispensing facility locations and their websites, visit http://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/application/selected_applicants.htm.

Ensuring that patients have access to registered practitioners, including publishing a list of consenting practitioners, was one of the major recommendations of the Department’s two-year report on the Medical Use of Marijuana Under the Compassionate Care Act.

Registered Organizations - Medical Marijuana Program

health.ny.gov

May 6th 8:33am • 12 Comments

Compassionate Care NY shared a link.

Medical marijuana companies sue New York State

wgrz.com

The New York State Health Department wants to double the number of medical marijuana manufacturers from 5 to 10, but the companies currently part of the program are now suing the state to block that.

May 3rd 11:52am • 25 Comments