Medical Marijuana became legal in Massachusetts in January. Friday, the state’s health department proposed fees to pay for the cost of regulating the industry. However, according to WBUR.com, one Northampton doctor has been recommending the use of the drug prior to any state regulations.
Dr. Jill Griffin was originally not a fan of medical marijuana. Until recently she thought it was just a way to get high and not get arrested. After the bill became law in January, her patients began to inquire about the drug. After ignoring the questions at first, she began to do research. She eventually wrote a recommendation for one of her older cancer patients.
“She was able to eat and get up and go out and go shopping,” Griffin said. “And prior to that, she had really been housebound.”
Following further research Griffin decided to dedicate her office to medical marijuana recommendations. For a fee of $200, she looks at patients to see if they qualify for a recommendation. Previously the law said recommendations could be made for patients with a “debilitating medical condition” like cancer, HIV, or Parkinson’s disease. However, as of Friday doctors are allowed to recommend for “other” reasons.
“Most common is chronic pain, and amongst the chronic pain is low back pain,” she said.
There are some doctors, like Alan Berkenwald, a physician at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, who aren’t sold on the idea of medical marijuana.
“My fear is that our rush to embrace medical marijuana now, well in advance of thought-out studies, is an example of that phenomenon where we’re embracing a cultural belief and trying to squeeze it into a medical application well before the data supports it,” he said. Berkenwald hopes to see stronger regulations and more clarification within the law.
Griffin also wants the law to be clearer so she can be sure she is not breaking any of the new rules.
“I don’t want to put my license at risk,” she said. “I want to have a great practice with wonderful people, and I do have wonderful patients, but that’s a little bit scary.”
Proposed Fees
Massachusetts state health officials proposed fees for the medical marijuana industry Friday, according to the Associated Press. Medical Marijuana dispensaries within the state would have to submit a $50,000 annual fee to remain open. Patients who use the drug would have to pay $50 a year to the state.
In November 2012 the state legalized the use of medical marijuana for patients suffering from diseases and infections such as cancer, HIV and Parkinson’s disease. Those patients were given permission to request approval from their doctors to use the drug.
The law approved the opening of 35 dispensaries. The first few could be up and running anytime from late this year to the beginning of 2014.
‘‘The program will be self-sustaining through fees on registered marijuana dispensaries and patients,’’ Acting Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Cheryl Bartlett said in a statement about the proposal.
The medical marijuana law is not meant to produce revenue for the state—any fees paid by the patients or dispensers will equal the amount it costs the state to run the program.
When dispensaries apply for a license they would have to go through a three-fee process. The first fee, $1,500 would be required once they apply. A second fee of $30,000 would be required once the dispenser moves further into the process. Once they receive the license, then they would pay the $50,000 fee. The final fee covers a certificate of registration and a renewal of that certificate.
Regular dispensary patrons will pay the $50. Patients who are given permission to grow marijuana at their homes because they are too ill to make it to a dispensary would pay an extra $100 per year.
If patients are able to submit evidence of personal monetary struggles, they would be able to get a fee waiver.
‘‘The proposed patient registration fees are in line with other states and will be affordable,’’ Bartlett said.
The state is staying away from the cost of the marijuana. It will grant the dispensaries a chance to decide the price of the drug.
There will be a public hearing on the proposed fees on June 14.
