New York expands available medical cannabis products

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New York’s medical marijuana dispensaries will soon be allowed to sell ointments, lozenges and chewable tablets.

The proposed regulations are intended to expand a program that’s been limited by its restrictions on allowable forms of cannabis – no smokable flower, for example – and small patient pool.

The Department of Health is also hoping to increase the number of participating physicians by cutting in half – to two hours – the time it takes a doctor to become registered to recommend medical marijuana, the Poughkeepsie Journal reported.

New York has only 1,155 registered practitioners to serve 26,561 MMJ patients, as of Aug. 8.

The new rules – which could be in place as soon as September – will also allow prospective medical cannabis patients to enter dispensaries to learn about the state’s MMJ program and products, the Journal reported. Under the current law, only registered patients can enter dispensaries.

New York has made several changes to grow the program this year, including adding chronic pain as a treatable condition and doubling the number of business licenses to 10.