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Studies link legal marijuana with fewer opioid prescriptions
NEW YORK (AP) — Can legalizing marijuana fight the problem of opioid addiction and fatal overdoses? Two new studies in the debate suggest it may. Pot can relieve chronic pain in adults, so advocates for liberalizing marijuana laws have proposed it as a lower-risk alternative to opioids. But some research suggests marijuana may encourage opioid use, and so might make the epidemic worse. The new studies don’t directly assess the effect of legalizing marijuana on…
Men seeking medical marijuana bombard gynecologist’s office in Pennsylvania
ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania gynecologist says she has been inundated with calls from men trying to set up appointments after hearing she was permitted to approve patients to seek medical marijuana from the state. Dr. Liang Bartkowiak told the Altoona Mirror she was mentioned in the media as being eligible to certify medical marijuana users, and then her office phone started ringing off the hook. It was primarily men on the line. Bartkowiak…
Five Luzerne County physicians approved for medical marijuana program
Five Luzerne County physicians have received approval from the state to certify patients for its new medical marijuana program. The five are Dr. Richard Blum, of Wilkes-Barre; Dr. John Brady, Luzerne; Dr. Matthew Kozicki, Nanticoke; Dr. Paul Tayoun, Hazleton; and Dr. Robert Dompkosky, Mountain Top. The release Wednesday of the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s list of approved physicians coincided with the announcement that patients and caregivers can register for the program expected to deliver medical…
State starts signing up medical-pot patients; drug should be available by May 1
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvanians moved a giant step closer Wednesday to being able to get marijuana to help treat medical conditions, as the state announced the launch of its patient and caregiver registry. The Health Department said a pilot program was successful, leading the agency to start taking applications from people to participate in the system through a new dedicated website. Patients are expected to be able to obtain the medication by May 1, the current…
Company eyes Scranton office for people looking to enter marijuana program
Once Pennsylvania approves doctors to see patients seeking medical marijuana, Compassionate Certification Centers will be ready to open up franchise-like offices, including one in Scranton, to get people into the state program. Dr. Bryan Doner, co-founder of the company, said he anticipates having between 20 and 25 locations statewide within the next year and a half. “It’s very similar to an urgent care center. They function similar to any outpatient healthcare clinic,” said Doner Friday.…
Medical marijuana: Doctors the next step in Pennsylvania’s program
HARRISBURG — Physicians can begin their involvement in the Pennsylvania medical marijuana program, according to the state’s Department of Health. The first step is to register, according to a press release from the agency. “Since April 2016, we’ve been working to implement a patient-focused Medical Marijuana Program for Pennsylvanians in desperate need of medication,” Dr. Rachel Levine, the state’s acting Secretary of Health and Physician General, said in the release. “Many physicians treat these patients…