Starting August 1, Minnesota medical cannabis patients will have access to infused gummies and chews and the state Department of Health is allowing patients to get pre-approved to buy the products.
Commissioner of Health Jan Malcolm said the products “may be useful options for those who may have difficulty swallowing pills or tablets, do not want to smoke medical cannabis, or don’t like the taste of other forms of medicine.”
“The state’s medical cannabis program continues to respond to the needs of patients.” — Malcolm in a press release
Under the state program, consultations are required when a patient changes the type of medical cannabis they receive and the agency “strongly” recommends patients schedule a consultation ahead of the August 1 product launch.
The addition of chews and gummies in Minnesota’s medical cannabis program comes less than a year after the state began allowing patients to access flower.
Since 2015 – the launch of the state’s medical cannabis program – patient counts have steadily increased from 937 to 32,464, according to Department of Health data.
The medical cannabis gummies and chews are separate from the recently authorized hemp-derived edible cannabinoid products regulated by the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy. The gummies and chews were approved last year by the Health Department.
Adult cannabis use remains illegal in Minnesota but the reforms do have the support of Gov. Tim Walz (D) who included legalization in his most recent budget; however, he has not received support from lawmakers.
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