It’s time for New York to join the 21st Century and pass the pending legislation
New York’s Compassionate Care Act went into effect in January of 2016 and provided much needed holistic relief to thousands of patients. However as our neighbors in the tri-state area look to legalize adult-use marijuana, our state’s medical program has barely gotten off the ground.
As a leading cannabis-certified physician in the New York metropolitan area, I’ve been at the forefront of treating debilitating conditions with cannabis and have seen the life-changing results that its thoughtful and judicious use can provide. Prescription marijuana medication has helped my patients safely cope with a variety of serious ailments, such as cancer, AIDS, chronic pain and inflammatory bowel disease.
It’s time for New York to join the 21st Century and pass the pending legislation that would expand the current medical cannabis law, increase patient access and allow our responsible doctors to use their judgment in treating the many conditions that could be helped by cannabis.
A large body of research proves that cannabis is an effective tool in safely treating ailments that are now being treated with opioids. As a doctor, I’ve seen the results. Some 9,000 New Yorkers overdosed on opioids last year — a nearly threefold increase from a decade ago. A University of Michigan study finds that patients using medical marijuana to control chronic pain reported a 64 percent reduction in their use of opioids. Harvard researchers have found that the ”use of marijuana for chronic pain is supported by high quality evidence.” Now is the time to make New York’s medical marijuana policy world class.
There are only 22 dispensaries that are currently operating in New York. Florida is about the same size and allows for 425 dispensaries. Patients suffering from severe conditions do not have enough access to the medicine they are legally entitled to. I am urging lawmakers to consider the unfairness of this situation. All New Yorkers suffering from cancer, HIV infection or AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury with spasticity, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease, neuropathy, Huntington’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder or chronic pain should have access to the analgesic and other therapeutic qualities of cannabis.
It’s disturbing that many of our elected officials have fallen so out of touch with the times. Right now, 20 percent of Americans live in a state with legal marijuana. Some 64 percent of Americans approve of legalized marijuana, an issue that crosses party lines. Recent news out of Albany suggests that many government officials and candidates are changing their mind on recreational marijuana. Before New York considers that, I urge Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Legislature to consider the health of our state’s most needy residents. Show some compassion and expand and enhance the Compassionate Care Act.
By Dr Junella Chin – Iohud
Image by Peter Carr/The Journal News
