The Future of Medical Cannabis
A Outlook On Medical Cannabis For 2024 And Beyond
It may feel to a lot of people that medical cannabis is becoming less and less significant in the larger cannabis space. As more states embrace legalization, with Florida recently seeing a ballot amendment for such be given the green light for the upcoming election, many have wondered, is there still a place for medical? Our response is, 100% yes.
Medical Cannabis Is Essential
We still need medical cannabis and individuals and business who will champion the importance of the medical benefits of cannabis. Here we’ll detail why medical cannabis is essential moving forward in 2024 and how you can find success in this still vital part of cannabis operations.
States With Upcoming Medical Cannabis Licenses
Perhaps no better reason to laud the importance of medical cannabis is looking at what is coming down the pipeline for new states. While a vast majority of states have at least a medical cannabis program in place, there are still some holdouts. Importantly, there are some which are on the precipice of launching their own medical cannabis programs. Kentucky’s cannabis program is a perfect example, which is aiming to issue medical licenses and begin its own medical market at the start of 2025 (and potentially even sooner).
There are other states which we are also optimistic will launch their own medical programs in the near future. These include the likes of Idaho, Kansas, and Nebraska. As well, states with medical programs are regularly seeking to expand existing cannabis programs such as Delaware, which is increasing access through self-diagnosis for patients 65+ and older, or make adjustments to the taxation associated with medical cannabis like in New York. There’s a lot happening in states and on the horizon for medical expansion and new cannabis license opportunities.
Cannabis Patient Needs are Growing
Kentucky’s Cannabis Patient Qualifications
With medical cannabis programs being expanded, so are the patient needs. Take for instance Kentucky, which is still in process of creating its medical program. As of this writing, there are only six qualifying conditions a patient may have to have access to the state’s verging medical program. These are:
- Any type or form of cancer
- Chronic or severe pain
- Epilepsy or other intractable seizure disorder
- Multiple Sclerosis, muscle spasms, or spasticity
- Chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Expanding Cannabis Patient Qualifications
Kentucky’s State Board of Physicians and Advisors, the Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Workgroup, and Governor Andy Beshear have been keen to expand this list of qualifications by over a dozen additional conditions. The additional qualifying conditions supported by Beshear and these two advisory boards include:
- AIDS and HIV
- ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
- Cachexia (wasting syndrome)
- Crohn’s disease
- Fibromyalgia
- Glaucoma
- Huntington’s disease
- Muscular dystrophy
- Neuropathies
- Parkinson’s disease
- Severe arthritis
- Sickle cell anemia
- Terminal illness
If all these conditions were adopted (and recently introduced legislation has indicated there is support from the capitol to do so), the pool of medical patients would expand tremendously. The needs for patients are there, and conditions are being expanded nationally for individuals seeking relief for multiple ailments and illnesses. Thankfully, many states are responding accordingly and seeking to bolster their new and mature medical markets.
The Educational Value of Medical Cannabis
Arguably the most important contribution a thriving medical cannabis program offers is its educational value. There’s bountiful information being offered through medical establishments, governing bodies, and ancillary institutions, along with cannabis consulting firms such as Canna Advisors, in this area.
Educating individuals—from patients to those who have never and previously would never consume cannabis—is often one of the most essential steps with reducing the stigmas with cannabis. Medical programs are why we have states such as Alabama, Florida, and Texas continuing to offer sporadic license opportunities and hopefully working to educate thousands if not millions of individuals about the health benefits of cannabis.
Keeping Medical at the Center of the Cannabis Industry
More so than the adult-use market, we would argue that the focus on health, wellness, and education makes the medical market an essential component to cannabis nationally. With decades of experience seasoned over 39 states, the team at Canna Advisors is proud of our medical cannabis background and eager to see others thrive in this integral component line of cannabis operations.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your cannabis business or just need answers to questions about your existing medical cannabis application, contact our team of medical cannabis experts today.