On June 10, 2016

Shumlin signs law expanding medical marijuana 

With overdose deaths from prescription opioids skyrocketing across America, on Monday, June 6, Gov. Peter Shumlin signed a law to expand Vermont’s successful medical marijuana system and give doctors an alternative to highly addictive opiates when treating some conditions such as chronic pain.

“At a time when opiate addiction is ravaging our state and drug companies continue to urge our doctors to pass out painkillers like candy, we need to find a more practical solution to pain management. This bill ensures that Vermonters who are suffering will have access to medicine that is high quality, laboratory tested, and most importantly non-addictive,” Gov. Shumlin said, June 6.

Under the legislation, S.14, new groups of Vermonters will now have access to medical marijuana, including those with glaucoma, chronic pain, and patients under Hospice care.

This adds to conditions that already have access to medical marijuana, which include cachexia or wasting syndrome, cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, seizures, severe pain, and severe nausea.

Additionally, the new law adds childproof packaging and increased labeling requirements to marijuana infused products sold at dispensaries.

Recent data from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) show that between 1999 and 2014, overdose deaths involving prescription opioids quadrupled, with more than 165,000 people dying.

Despite that, the number of prescriptions for opioids continues to rise. In 2010 enough opiates were prescribed to keep every adult in America high for an entire month and in 2012 enough were prescribed to give every American their own bottle of pills, according to the CDC.

The new qualifying conditions for medical marijuana take effect immediately.

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Vermont’s regular deer season starts Nov. 16

November 6, 2024
Hunters are gearing up for the start of Vermont’s traditionally popular 16-day regular deer season that begins Saturday, Nov. 16 and ends Sunday, Dec. 1.  A hunter may take one legal buck during this season if they did not already take one during the archery deer season. “The greatest numbers of deer continue to be…

Hospitals report runs into furor over ‘major restructuring’ recommendations 

November 6, 2024
Analysis plunged state’s healthcare system into anxiety, uncertainty By Peter D’Auria/VTDigger Last month, a consultant released a sweeping report recommending significant changes for Vermont’s healthcare system, including “major restructuring” at four community hospitals. The 144-page state-commissioned document details a series of steps that Vermont’s hospitals should take to stay afloat, including repurposing inpatient units and downgrading emergency departments…

Amazon to pay $400,000 to Vermont for violating online sales ban on vaping products

October 30, 2024
Attorney General Charity Clark announced that Amazon has agreed to pay $400,000 to the State of Vermont to settle a dispute regarding violations of the state’s delivery sales ban, which prohibits the direct shipping of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vaping products, to Vermont consumers. The settlement resolves allegations that third-party sellers on Amazon’s platform…

Lt. governor candidate Rodgers wants Republican voters. Does he want the Republican label, too?

October 30, 2024
By Shaun Robinson/VTDigger In Vermont’s race for lieutenant governor a single label has been front and center. Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, a Progressive/Democrat and produce farmer from Hinesburg, is facing a challenge from John Rodgers of Glover, a former state lawmaker who owns a stone excavation business and also runs a hemp and cannabis business, who…