New York's State Department of Health announced on Thursday that chronic pain is a qualified condition for medical marijuana treatment under New York's Compassionate Care Law. The health department said that medical marijuana has been proven to help treat debilitating pain.
Kassandra Frederique of the state director of the Drug Policy Alliance said: "I think patients in New York deserve to run a victory lap over this. I think it is fair to say that this could affect thousands of patients in New York."
List Of Chronic Pains Include Cancer
Medical marijuana advocates are very happy about New York's announcement. Alyssa Aguilera, Co-Executive Director of VOCAL-NY said: "Medical marijuana is a scientifically proven intervention for people who are suffering from chronic pain and we applaud New York State for added it as a qualifying condition to access medical marijuana. We hope to see additional improvements to the state's medical marijuana program, and eventually the full legalization of cannabis, so that no New Yorkers are criminalized for possessing and using the plant."
New York State Department of Health lists these 10 illnesses under chronic pains which can be treated with medical marijuana soon: HIV infection or AIDS, Parkinson's disease, Cancer, Inflammatory bowel disease, Neuropathies, Huntington's disease, Multiple sclerosis, Spinal damage, Lou Gehrig's disease, Epilepsy.
Thousands Of Patients Have Reported Benefits From Medical Marijuana
The state of New York currently has a medical marijuana program which benefits tens of thousands of patients, and has about 750 doctors who are able to give medical marijuana prescription.
Dr. Howard A. Zucker, Health Commissioner, said: After conducting a thorough review of the scientific literature, it became clear that there may be certain benefits in the use of medical marijuana by patients suffering from chronic pain. Medical marijuana is already helping thousands of patients across New York State, and adding chronic pain as a qualifying condition will help more patients and further strengthen the program."
