OMC: Less Than 200 Patients Have Access To Medical Marijuana
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The state's Office of Medical Cannabis released the latest registration numbers Friday for patients and doctors that have signed up for the state's medical marijuana program.
Since June 1, 318 health care practitioners have registered for the program, and 298 have been authorized to certify patients.
But there is more of a disparity between the number of patients that have registered -- 340 -- and those that have been approved to pick up prescriptions -- 183.
The OMC says 81 people have registered to become patient caregivers in the program, but only 15 have been approved.
These numbers have come a long way since early June, when only 30 doctors had registered and only 41 patients were authorized to purchase medical marijuana.
A survey in early June found that 68 percent of Minnesota doctors said they did not want to be part of the program.
Patients are entirely reliant upon doctors to enroll in the state's program.