Pennsylvania Starts Program Providing Financial Assistance to Low-Income Cannabis Patients

Certain low-income seniors in Pennsylvania have access to financial assistance for medical cannabis treatments thanks to the state’s newly launched pilot program.

According to Capitol Wire, The state’s Department of Health has launched a program that “provides $50 monthly financial assistance to nearly 1,400 seniors to help cover the cost of medical marijuana.”

“This payment is the first step in establishing the third phase of an approved financial assistance program to enable low-income medical marijuana patients to purchase medicine. Because we don’t include it in drug coverage, medical marijuana patients end up paying the full cost of medical marijuana when they visit a state clinic.

Still, that’s a small fraction of the pool of patients who might qualify for the discount, and the state “has enough money to provide meaningful assistance to all patients identified as low-income.” Do not have. “

The launch of financial assistance is the third phase of the Medical Marijuana Assistance Program (MMAP) launched earlier this year.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health,”Phase 1 [eliminated] An annual card fee for eligible participants enrolled in an existing Federal Financial Difficulty Program. Phase 2 [eliminated] All background check fees for eligible caregivers. [and] In Phase 3, each eligible patient will be allocated a benefit amount determined per funding period. “

the Ministry of Health said “The Medical Marijuana Program Fund was created as a special fund of the National Treasury. Programs to help with the cost of providing medical marijuana to patients who demonstrate a need… Programs to help patients and caregivers Costs associated with waivers or reductions in identification fees…[and a] Programs that provide for the cost of background checks for caregivers. “

The cost of medical marijuana has been a concern for Pennsylvania officials.

Earlier this year, John Collins, former director of the state’s medical marijuana agency, warned of rising costs.

Philadelphia Inquirer In March, it reported that “the average wholesale price of a gram of medical cannabis leaf in Pennsylvania has fallen 36% since the beginning of 2020,” Collins said. It has fallen only 14% compared to the period. Period.”

Collins told Pennsylvania Health Secretary Keira Kleinpeter, “Secretary, I’m making a clear call today that this is a red flag that requires investigation.” Inquirer.

These aren’t the only changes state health departments have made to medical cannabis programs.

In February, authorities directed producers and retailers to stop selling hundreds of products they said were not in line with regulatory standards.

“The Department of Health is committed to ensuring that the medical marijuana program operates properly and effectively,” the agency said in an email. “As you know, the Department recently conducted a statewide review of all vaporized medical marijuana products that contain added ingredients. We have determined that vaporized medical marijuana products are not approved for inhalation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.”

Capitol Wire reports that in March, states “began waiving the cost of medical marijuana cards and background checks for medical marijuana caregivers.”