Medical cannabis programs in the United States are in need of improvement, according to a study

81 % of Americans are in favour of legalising medical cannabis, according to the survey conducted last year by Harris Poll. Citizens’ opinion is being gradually reflected in the law. There are already 23 states in the country that have regulated medicinal marijuana. 

19 of them passed new laws on medical cannabis last year. In many of them, regulation was accompanied by new programmes for those patients in need of treatment involving cannabis. 

The Americans for Safe Access (ASA) organisation, which gives legal advice to patients, lawyers and legislators, has just published a report that assesses the programs of the various states from the users’ point of view. 

From a survey of its more than 100,000 members and the debates held at their public meetings, the report points out that, with a few exceptions, the programs carried out by most states are in need of improvement: their average mark is D-, that is to say, a fail pure and simple.

The lack of product safety protocols and difficulties in gaining access to the medicines are the two factors that have caused such a low overall mark (both get an average of F), although the programs also fail to get a pass in other criteria, such as patients’ rights. 

The report, however, does state that more regulations are being adopted to guarantee product safety. ASA, in fact, points out that the programme to be implemented in Maryland gets top marks in the report, as work is being done there, with the help of the ASA itself and the American Herbal Product Association, to establish suitable quality criteria regarding the cultivation, distribution and production of medical cannabis.