More than three-quarters of the states 13,000 or so medical marijuana-eligible patients have purchased the drug, but only half of the 13,000 are repeat buyers under the tightly regulated state program, according to Department of Health data provided to the Times Union.
Through late January, 12,933 patients had been certified by their doctors to participate in the states medical marijuana program and 10,250 patients had been dispensed a medical marijuana product. But the number of patients who had been dispensed a product more than once was 6,403.
That data backs up anecdotal evidence about patients purchasing habits over the first year of the program. While the five companies authorized to sell medical marijuana products have had products to offer, demand has been on a slower growth curve than the businesses would like.
These less-than-robust sales have caused issues for patients, including prohibitive prices they must cover out of pocket because insurance does not cover medical marijuana.
Diagnosing why about half of all patients arent returning to pick up a second round of medicine isnt an exact science.
If the implication is that only certain people are continuing on medical marijuana because they can afford it, there are probably lots of reasons for that besides just price, said Josh Vinciguerra, the Department of Healths Narcotic Enforcement Bureau director.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Only Half Of State’s Medical Marijuana Patients Are Repeat Buyers
Author: Matthew Hamilton
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Website: Times Union
