In November 2012, Massachusetts voters approved a ballot question which allows qualifying patients with certain medical conditions to obtain and use medical marijuana.  While the ballot question makes medical marijuana legal in the state, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health must consider several important issues to ensure safe and responsible use.

To that end, DPH has been meeting internally to develop these regulations. DPH has partnered with a wide range of stakeholders in public safety, patient advocacy groups, the medical community, and municipal governments and will learn from other states’ experiences to put a system in place that is right for Massachusetts. Listening Sessions held across the Commonwealth - in Boston, Worcester, and Holyoke- contributed to DPH’s understanding of the complexity surrounding implementation of a medical marijuana program.

 

This information is provided by the Health Care Safety and Quality within the Department of Public Health.