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New Hampshire’s medical marijuana program is growing steadily. In 2016, it qualified 2,000 new patients, with three being under age 5. The state is working to expand the program with bills in the state legislature up for consideration.
The new number of registered patients in New Hampshire is 2,089, according to NewHampshire.com. There are 131 valid caregiver cardholders as well. These were the program’s totals as of December 19, 2016 with the information just being released this week.
Sanctuary ATC served the most patients last year with 612. It was also the first dispensary to open to serve patients. Second in line was Temescal Wellness Inc. with 556 patients in Dover and 337 in Dover. Prime ATC brought rounded out the pack by serving 584 patients last year, even with them opening in late August.
Michael Holt, acting policy administrator for the therapeutic cannabis program, said, “The feedback we’ve gotten from patients has been nothing but supportive and enthusiastic. The feedback from the Alternative Treatment Centers has been the same, that patients are experiencing significant relief from this therapy.”
New Hampshire does allow for children to be certified to use medical marijuana. Their process is a bit different as there are additional requirements for certification including two provider recommendations. One recommendation must come from a pediatrician. Only a parent or guardian can be the child’s caregiver and control access/dose.
The state has found that the most densely populated cities and counties have the most qualifying patient numbers per capita. The state also has an ample number of physicians willing to certify patients. There are 463 physicians and 97 APRNs who certified patients last year.
Severe pain is the most common qualifying condition as there are 1,565 patients registered for pain conditions. Muscle spasms comes in at number 2 with 662 patients and nausea is third with 291 patients.
Regarding the flow of applications and general program interest, Holt said, “There’s been no lessening of the number of new applications coming in.”
