In the News – State advertising to recruit more medical marijuana doctors
With only a small fraction of the state’s doctors participating in Connecticut’s medical marijuana program, the agency that’s running it has begun a public-service blitz.
Fear of prosecution
Harris said the longer the federal government leaves the medical-marijuana program alone, the more patients and doctors will feel comfortable enough to join. In the 2012 legislation, when the Connecticut General Assembly agreed to change marijuana’s status from a dangerous Schedule I drug, with no medical benefits, to Schedule II, it challenged federal policy.
“We’ve been consistent in our position,” he said. “We did not support the bill originally and once it passed and became statute, we wanted to make certain physicians were free to participate without prosecution. The longer the program is in existence, the more willing physicians will participate, providing there is no legal action or enforcement. We have been supportive of education opportunities when we have been asked to provide medical information. We have circulated and do not try to prevent anyone from being educated on whether or not want to certify patients for the program.”
Fear of prosecution
Harris has been making speaking appearances throughout the state to get the word out on the 2012 law. “We want to make people better-informed when and how to participate.”
The radio spots are appearing on Hartford-area public radio.
“It will be interesting to see what our outreach efforts to the physicians are,” Harris said. “It’s a private sector model and it should be driven by the businesses, patients and doctors on the ground. It’s a unique position as a regulator to clear up the misinformation, tear down some of the barriers and give people some comfort that they’re not going to get into any kind of trouble if they participate.”
“It will be interesting to see what our outreach efforts to the physicians are,” Harris said. “It’s a private sector model and it should be driven by the businesses, patients and doctors on the ground. It’s a unique position as a regulator to clear up the misinformation, tear down some of the barriers and give people some comfort that they’re not going to get into any kind of trouble if they participate.”
With only 222 doctors participating, the program is still double the size it was last October, when the first of the state’s six dispensaries began to supply marijuana from the four producers. It’s a sign of steady progress, said Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jonathan Harris.
The goal is to break through the stigma and lack of information that seems to be holding doctors back from registering, which they need to do to be able to prescribe the drug.
The state is reaching out to the 7,000 doctors in the Connecticut State Medical Society, with radio and print ads highlighting the medical benefits of marijuana, and showing that edibles and oils are steadily taking the place of smoking the plant’s flowers.
With only 222 doctors participating, the program is still double the size it was last October, when the first of the state’s six dispensaries began to supply marijuana from the four producers. It’s a sign of steady progress, said Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jonathan Harris.
“It will be interesting to see what our outreach efforts to the physicians are,” Harris said. “It’s a private sector model and it should be driven by the businesses, patients and doctors on the ground. It’s a unique position as a regulator to clear up the misinformation, tear down some of the barriers and give people some comfort that they’re not going to get into any kind of trouble if they participate.”
The radio spots are appearing on Hartford-area public radio.
Harris has been making speaking appearances throughout the state to get the word out on the 2012 law. “We want to make people better-informed when and how to participate.”
Fear of prosecution
Ken Ferrucci, senior vice president of policy and governmental affairs for the Connecticut State Medical Society, admits the organization has been cautious and didn’t have an official reaction to the outreach by the Department of Consumer Protection.
“We’ve been consistent in our position,” he said. “We did not support the bill originally and once it passed and became statute, we wanted to make certain physicians were free to participate without prosecution. The longer the program is in existence, the more willing physicians will participate, providing there is no legal action or enforcement. We have been supportive of education opportunities when we have been asked to provide medical information. We have circulated and do not try to prevent anyone from being educated on whether or not want to certify patients for the program.”
Medical marijuana is still illegal under federal law
With only a small fraction of the state’s doctors participating in Connecticut’s medical marijuana program, the agency that’s running it has begun a public-service blitz.
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