Progress and Hurdles for NY's Medical Marijuana Program
On Wednesday, Steven Ognibene had to take the day off from work.
The Rochester surgeon needed to drive three hours to Binghamton because the type of medical marijuana that could help his 11-year-old son, Vincent, wasn’t available locally. It was, though, available at a dispensary in Johnson City, Broome County.
The trip illustrates the obstacles some patients and their families are facing nearly one year after New York allowed for the use of medical marijuana in non-smokable forms for certain conditions.
The state Health Department in recent weeks has announced plans to expand the program amid complaints of limited access, high prices and regulatory hurdles that have discouraged doctors and patients from participating.
Ognibene, a colon-rectal surgeon, has seen medical marijuana help his son, who has severe autism and epilepsy. Ognibene also has prescribed it to a few of his patients, and they have responded well, too.
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