New York officially launches marijuana as a form of medical treatment Thursday, becoming the 23rd US state to do so as the taboo surrounding its legalized medicinal use starts to shift.
Under the legislation, five companies are authorized to grow marijuana for medicinal purposes in the state, but only one – Bloomfield Industries – has set up headquarters in New York City itself.
The law requires that patients seeking medical marijuana first be certified by a state-approved physician and then register with the Health Department and obtain a registry identification card before being allowed to purchase the product.
According to a Harris Poll carried out last May, 81 percent of Americans favor legalizing marijuana for medical use, up from 74 percent in 2011.
Should we say that the positive benefits of marijuana now outweigh the negative consequences?
editor@ugchristiannews.com
