Minnesotans who rely on medical marijuana to treat a myriad of conditions will soon be able to smoke the plant. Governor Tim Walz signed the omnibus health and human services bill into law this week, which includes a provision to expand the state’s medical cannabis program that was created in 2014, with qualified patients allowed to buy the drug starting in July 2015. The state’s program, though, is one of the most restrictive in the country because it only allows patients to use the drug in liquid, oil, and pill forms — smokable medical marijuana is banned (a provision that was needed to get lawmakers and the Governor to approve the program). Since the start, many patients have criticized the law for being overly restrictive and have said the cost of the non-smokable forms of medical cannabis is a major barrier (it’s not covered by insurance). But now, starting no later than March 1, 2022, patients will be able to buy the smokeable flower form of the plant, making the medical cannabis program more affordable and accessible.
420 Intel – Marijuana Industry News, 05/31/2021 20:00:00