Mass. Department of Public Health holding first ‘Listening Session’ today in Worcester
Today the Massachusetts Department of Public Health will hold the first of three public “Listening Sessions” to get input from on Medical Marijuana.
Among other things, the health department is looking for feedback from the public on how marijuana treatment centers should be monitored and regulations enforced. They also want to hear about how marijuana should be used in food products.
Today’s session will be held at the Worcester Public Library, and another will be held tomorrow in Roxbury at the Reggie Lewis Center.
In November 2012, voters in Massachusetts approved Question 3, making medical marijuana legal in the state. Although the ballot question became law on Jan. 1, the health department has until May 1 to figure out how to implement and regulate medical marijuana.
The health department recently said in a statement announcing the Listening Sessions that it is “dedicated to engaging stakeholders and learning from other states’ experiences in order put in place a system that is right for Massachusetts, ensuring both appropriate access and safe and secure communities for our children and families.”
Each person will be allowed three minutes to testify during Listening Sessions, which do not replace required Public Hearings on medical marijuana, according to the health department.
The final Listening Session will be held on Feb. 27 in at Holyoke Community College.
Specific topics to be covered during the event include:
- Patient eligibility and debilitating medical conditions • Guidance and training for physicians
- Operations of a medical marijuana treatment center including security requirements
- 60-day supply of marijuana
- Use of marijuana in food products for medical purposes
- Requirements for hardship cultivation registrations
- Monitoring of medical marijuana treatment centers and enforcement of regulations
