Patients, healthcare providers, advocates, and lawmakers convened at the New York State Capitol to advocate for legislative changes that would enhance access to medical cannabis and ensure that patients receive the treatment they need. With the state’s medical cannabis program facing challenges in the wake of adult-use legalization, leaders in the space are pushing for new policies that prioritize patient care, insurance coverage, and physician education.

Legislation Aimed at Strengthening Patient Access

New York Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes emphasized the importance of these legislative efforts, stating, “The medical cannabis bills currently in discussion this legislative session go a long way towards helping patients who rely on medical cannabis. We want to make sure the legislation makes sense and helps the medical cannabis program in New York State grow.”

Among the key bills under consideration are:

• A4744: Mandates that state-funded health insurance entities cover medical cannabis.
• A4764: Eliminates the excise tax on medical cannabis, reducing financial barriers for patients.
• A6709: Establishes an Endocannabinoid System Awareness Program to ensure healthcare professionals are adequately trained in cannabis-based medicine.

Expanding Medical Education for Healthcare Providers

As cannabis use becomes more prevalent, Assemblymember Anna Kelles highlighted the importance of medical professionals staying informed on the latest research. “The legalization of cannabis both addressed deep-seated human rights inequities in our criminal justice system and acknowledged the natural role that endocannabinoids play in human physiology,” Kelles said. “However, as more people consume more potent cannabis more often, it is important that the medical community has access to the same caliber of research, training, and up-to-date recommendations on best practices for use and counter-indications that they have on all medical interventions.”

Her proposed Endocannabinoid System Awareness Program aims to bridge the knowledge gap among healthcare providers, ensuring that patients receive informed recommendations and care tailored to their needs.

Advocates Demand Patient-Centered Reform

The decline of New York’s medical cannabis program is a growing concern for healthcare professionals and patient advocates alike. Dr. Lynn Parodneck, a physician in Bedford, NY, pointed out the sharp drop in registered patients since adult-use legalization. “When adult-use, non-medical cannabis was legalized in 2021, there were nearly 150,000 patients in the medical cannabis program. Today, that number has dwindled to barely above 100,000. If our legislature does not turn bills into laws that support our medical cannabis patients, the program may cease to be relevant in our state.”

Similarly, Frank Falvo, RPh, a Schenectady-based pharmacist, urged lawmakers to refocus on patient care. “If we are going to serve these patients properly, we must do a better job of crafting our medical cannabis program such that it is a guiding light for healthcare in our state and not just an afterthought in the wake of the state’s adult-use cannabis program.”

A Call to Action for Lawmakers

Legal experts and longtime cannabis advocates continue to push for policy changes that protect patient rights. Jeffrey Hoffman, a New York City-based cannabis attorney, reinforced the urgency of legislative action, stating, “Cannabis is medicine. Full stop. New York must do everything it can to ensure that medical cannabis patients receive the proper health care they deserve. From health insurance coverage for medical cannabis, to repealing the medical cannabis excise tax, to making sure all medical professionals are familiar with the Endocannabinoid System, our elected officials in Albany must turn bills into laws that support our medical cannabis patients.”

Medical cannabis users, such as Western New York advocate Nikki Lawley, are calling on lawmakers to take immediate action. “The patient is at the center of all our efforts. We call on our elected representatives to make sure that the medical cannabis patients of New York are fully supported.”

With multiple bills on the table, the future of New York’s medical cannabis program will depend on whether lawmakers take decisive action. Patients, providers, and advocates are making it clear—New York must do more to ensure that medical cannabis remains accessible, affordable, and recognized as essential healthcare.

For more information, contact Jeffrey Hoffman at info@420jurist.com.