Governor Peter Shumlin has signed legislation into law expanding the state’s medical cannabis program.
Senate Bill 14 includes various patient-friendly provisions: It permits patients with glaucoma and ‘chronic pain’ and/or those in hospice care to be eligible for cannabis therapy; it eliminates the requirement that patients must have previously tried other conventional treatments “without success” prior to being eligible for medical cannabis; it amends existing doctor/patient relationship requirements in a manner that expedites certain patients eligibility to receive cannabis treatment; and it authorizes naturopaths to make medicinal cannabis recommendations.
“This bill is heading in a better direction for medical marijuana. There is no question about it,” the Governor said upon signing the measure into law.
The changes impacting patients’ eligibility took effect upon signing. Other changes in the law take effect on July 1, 2016. Full text of the new law is online here.
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns
