Twenty states and the District of Columbia, have medical marijuana programs. Patients can either buy or grow marijuana for things like pain relief. The General Assembly took a first, cautious stab at creating a medical marijuana program last year. Marijuana was to be made available through academic medical centers. But, none of the centers in Maryland signed up to participate. Legislators decided this past session to allow certified doctors to write prescriptions for medical marijuana that can be bought from licensed growers and dispensaries.
With SheilahKast to talk about how the program might work is Delegate Cheryl Glenn, a Democrat from Baltimore city. She was a co-sponsor of the medical marijuana bill. With us by phone was the Chairman of Maryland’s medical marijuana commission, Dr. Paul Davies. Also with us by phone was Ryan Vandrey, an Associate Professor and researcher at the Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.
You can find initial draft regulations created by the Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Medical Marijuana Commission here.
This segment was originally broadcast on April 11, 2014.
