New York Keeps Cannabis Medical After Legalization
- barneyelias0
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OG Article By Chris Roberts
October 14, 2025
State focuses on equity and health. Dr. June Chin leads efforts to protect patients and promote research.
New York’s $2 billion cannabis market prioritizes equity.
This gives justice-impacted people and nonprofits first retail chances.
Challenges persist, but commitment holds.
The market also emphasizes health.
The Office of Cannabis Management has a chief health officer.
Dr. June Chin, an osteopathic physician, took the role in July.
She served on a state advisory board before.
Her task: Keep cannabis medical amid adult-use sales.
Broad Health Role
Chin’s duties go beyond medical cannabis.
She oversees health, safety, research, patient protection, and public health.
This includes youth education on benefits and risks.
It covers emergency-room awareness of overuse.
Pediatricians guide teens.
Everyone learns safe storage.
Physicians get updated info for patients.
Patients may ask about adult-use products.
“We ensure conversations continue,” Chin said.
Legalization boosts access and therapeutic interest.
Stigma fades. Support for education grows.
Chin moderates a clinician and researcher gathering next month.
Co-hosted by Northwell Health.
The Medical Cannabis Symposium educates providers.
It starts Nov. 6 on Long Island.
Offers free certification course.
Modernizing the Program
Medical patient numbers often drop post-legalization.
Federal Schedule 1 status limits research and insurance.
New York requires pharmacists at medical dispensaries.
Lawmakers preserve the system.
Gov. Kathy Hochul will sign a modernization bill.
It extends certifications to two years.
Allows home cultivation.
Eases reciprocity with other states.
After Rescheduling
Medical claims need FDA approval.
Schedule 3 shift could help.
Research opens up.
Regulations stay robust.
Stigma reduces further.
Provider conversations evolve.
Cannabis and Youth
Tough issues remain, like kids and cannabis.
Chin held statewide meetings.
Questions: What is youth education?
What is safe?
Debate continues.
Chin ensures safer recommendations.
Integrates cannabis into treatments.
“Conversations are happening,” she said.
Chris Roberts can be reached at chris.roberts@mjbizdaily.com.
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