Cannabis Pharmacist/Entrepreneur. Developing an industry where cannabis and modern-day healthcare collide. #IntentionalConsumption
"New Jersey Medical Marijuana Program Shrinks While Recreational Market Expands" This headline is almost like a gimme nowadays after cannabis legalization occurs in various states. The question often posed is "how do we prevent the deterioration of our medical cannabis program?" but I challenge this question with a different perspective: "What benefit does remaining in the medical cannabis program offer?" In New Jersey, the answer is: -0% state sales tax -Preferred parking spots in dispensary lots -Separate lines for checkout -Employee protections by having a state issued medical cannabis card?? Beyond that... the value doesn't justify the additional ~$150 and time/effort that is paid to a physician to certify patients to continue receiving a medical card annually. My take on how medical markets can continue to demonstrate value: 1. Direct access to an actual healthcare clinician - MD, nurse, pharmacist, even a LSCW would be beneficial. In fact, I think it should be REQUIRED in order to call themselves a "Medical" dispensary. If somebody's not onsite, at least have an on-call service or email response available for more technical and personal medical questions. 2. Reimbursement from 3rd party companies. Prices in NJ remain the highest in the nation and there have been talks on state funded agencies subsidizing costs, but nothing has come to fruition. Perhaps this is one of the benefits that federal rescheduling may bring and healthcare companies should start considering. 3. Quality/product differentiation. A perfect example is that for our AU market, the max package size is 10 x 10mg THC ingestible products. Prior to that, medical patients were able to purchase 35 x 10mg THC products at a reduced $/THC ratio. Bringing the conversation back to federal rescheduling, perhaps cGMP facilities and other QA/QC standardization (the "useful" side of big pharma) will warrant a conversation! Until then... I guess parking closer and separate lines will remain being the motivator.... What other benefits would encourage medical patients from remaining in medical programs? Link to article in comments.
Tauhid Chappell
7mo
Unless you were passing Cali prop 215/sb420-level laws (or laws akin to what Maine passed), no medical program was ever good enough to begin with IMO & never truly centered patients needs around costs, education, access & homegrow. Some ideas as a former patient advisor at mmj dispensary in PA. Some definitely overlap with your ideas and suggestions too which is dope 1. No tax on purchases for patients/designated caregivers 2. Reimbursement for all payments for purchases by patients/caregivers 3. Subsidizing all purchases for patients/caregivers 4. Right of first dibs - patients get access to new medicine before this medicine is just another "product" added to an adult use menus 5. Access to pharmacist/doctor who is not only friendly to cannabis use but is deeply educated on drug interactions and pharmacology of the plant (this was HUGE for us at our dispensary) 6. Delivery fees waived for patients/caregivers or subsidized for patients/caregivers. 7. Putting patients at top of queue. 8. Ongoing, recurring, discounts and loyalty rewards programs for patients/caregivers. 9. Organized free transportation to growers on select days to learn about medicine being grown / "meet your grower" days 10. Homegrow
Ryan Magee
7mo
Alan - what do you think about a more traditional insurance-based payment model for medical cannabis? Of course, it would necessarily require health insurers to cover medical cannabis — and the federal government has made that an impossibility to date. But imagine a scenario where someone visits their local dispensary, pays a co-pay, and leaves with their medicine? I know many folks are hesitant to create a landscape that further opens the door to big healthcare, big pharma, etc., but I’m most concerned with improving patient access long term.
We have this problem in Michigan Dr. Ao. When Rec took over their medical program, patients no longer receive priority for medicinal cannabis products. There is no helpful medical professional or even knowledgeable bud tender giving you compound or alchemy help. Michigan only has candy stores for cannabis dispensaries. But I did find a wonderful CBD store called Mother Earth and they treat their clientele like patients. They have Type I, II, and III products. But it took me a year to find them. Their packaging is different… tailored to patients with info and instructions and lots of hand-holding with a money back guarantee and they call to check on you later. That’s what it should be like. So why stay in a medical program? For all the help you can find in this community of patients. So we can get our voices heard again. Because we have power in numbers. Get rid of the greedy fees for medical programs and give the damn cards to patients. But let’s get our mentality straight about this product. Most people are using it for medication. Don’t let the stoners and legislators take it away from us. Science is the only real master of cannabis. Not the people’s uninformed or uninspired will. I’m working Michigan to bring it back.
Gretchen Mack👩🏼🌾
7mo
In Vermont, medical patients can grow twice as many plants as recreational growers. That’s a plus.
Jason Thomas
7mo
It sucks that the program is dimishing but people have lost faith in the quality and difference between medical and recreational. They are one in the same. Throw on top states like Arizona, Maine, and CO that didn’t mandate testing for medical initially but required it for adult use and it leaves patients and consumers wondering what’s the difference. While workplace protections are a HUGE value, the real medical benefit comes with insurance coverage. That will cause programs to increase once again allowing expanded coverage though traditional insurance programs and Medicare/Medicaid.
Cynthia Tantum
7mo
Great thought provoking post Alan Ao, PharmD and I appreciate the ensuing dialog as well. As Joel Allcock touched on in his comment, at Bennabis Health we are making medical cannabis more affordable for patients and helping to bring value for cardholders. 1) Our network of participating dispensaries extends a STACKABLE discount that can help patients (Premium members) see savings in excess of $1000 a year, just on buying 1ounce monthly. 2) we have access to a nurse-line for the medical support 3) we have the infrastructure to support cost-sharing under and employee benefit. #3 is were we will see the biggest value for medical cannabis patients and when it does go to schedule III this is going to be the key to coverage. We will see employers paying a significant percentage of the cost, especially in those cases when patients are reducing or replacing their Rx consumption.
Nirmit Patel
7mo
No real advantage left on the medical program unfortunately. On rec side customers can buy an ounce per transaction and go to different dispensaries. On med side they are capped at 3 ounces per month. The first reform should be taking away the cap on medical patients, provide them greater access to better quality products, better priced products.
Kristen Goedde
7mo
We need medical home grow.
Cannabis Pharmacist/Entrepreneur. Developing an industry where cannabis and modern-day healthcare collide. #IntentionalConsumption
7mohttps://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-jersey-medical-marijuana-program-shrinks-while-recreational-market-expands/