BOSTON — The Cannabis Control Commission has voted to extend several pandemic-related policies relating to medical marijuana, specifically allowances on telehealth consultations and curbside pickup availability.
In March 2020, regulations requiring primary care visits to be conducted in-person to issue an initial certificate of registration for medical marijuana were waived to accommodate the state of emergency brought on by COVID-19.
Since then, 80% of all initial provider visits were conducted via telehealth appointments, according to the CCC.
Even as COVID-19 restrictions loosened, telehealth visits remained prominent. The lowest percentage of initial visits conducted via telehealth appointments since the start of the pandemic was in September 2021. That month still saw 53% of initial visits conducted remotely, according to CCC data.
Cuts at MetroWest Medical Center:Ambulance diversions are latest cause for concern
Commission Chair Shannon O’Brien spoke of a lack of primary care physicians, particularly in western Massachusetts, as a main reason the commission should extend allowances for telehealth consultations and work toward making that extension permanent.
“I have two sisters living out in western Massachusetts,” O’Brien said. “It’s been near impossible for them to get primary care physicians. There’s just a dearth of them. I do think that this is something that, as we review this and look at regulations … trying to figure out how we can make (access) as seamless as possible when just trying to get basic care becomes more and more difficult in terms of an in-person setting.”
The CCC voted Thursday to extend telehealth consultations for first-time registrations for medical marijuana through the end of 2023. However, some members expressed hesitancy about their vote.
Concern over policy extensions
“The pandemic is winding down, so we can’t just keep kicking the can,” said Commissioner Kimberly Roy. “It is at odds with the existing regulation … If we are voting on an extension, I hope it’s the last one and that we are able to address this in regulation at some time.”
Similarly, some commissioners expressed concern over extending the ability of medical marijuana treatment centers to offer curbside pickup for qualifying patients.
Curbside pickup at marijuana treatment centers was previously available for both medical patients and adult use. However, adult use was rolled back shortly after former Gov. Charlie Baker lifted the public emergency in Massachusetts last spring.
Concern over curbside pickup centers on opening the door for drive-through windows. Some members expressed concern that permitting drive-through, even with patients still required to show ID and registration for medical marijuana, would be extending the sales floor too far, requiring even further regulation.
Dr. Jeff Hersh:Women often get the short end of the stick in the health care system
“I have some similar concerns from the executive director that this doesn’t translate into some allowance for drive-through windows and things like that,” said Commissioner Bruce Stebbins. “I think as we get some more details and some more information, I think we could come back at any time … We can tentatively extend it and then say, ‘Yeah, now we’ve made a decision.’”
Part of the hesitancy on the extension, he said, was that there are only 13 municipalities with marijuana treatment centers employing curbside pickup, while in December that number had been closer to 30. Some of those municipalities still employing curbside pickup include Somerville, Cambridge and Worcester, though no marijuana treatment centers in Framingham or the immediate surrounding area are offering that option.
Consolidation worries:State regulators express concern over trend for pediatric care
Despite uncertainty, the CCC ultimately voted to extend that permission through the end of the year.
Both decisions will impact the more than 96,000 patients prescribed medical marijuana in the commonwealth, according to the CCC.
