Keeping Cannabis Medical: New York's Unique Approach

New York's $2 billion cannabis market is famously "equity first," prioritizing justice-impacted individuals and community-service nonprofits in licensing. But there's another distinctive element to the state's approach: it's also "health-forward."

A Chief Health Officer for Cannabis

Unlike most states, New York's Office of Cannabis Management includes a chief health officer position. Dr. June Chin, an osteopathic physician appointed in July after serving on a state advisory board, faces a challenge that's proven difficult in other markets: keeping cannabis medical after adult-use legalization.

But as Chin explains, her role extends far beyond medical marijuana.

"I would say my role is to oversee health, safety, research, protecting patients-and, most importantly, public health," she said. "We think, 'Oh, there's a physician in this role. That must mean medical cannabis.' They forget that there's public health and research and safety and lab-testing in an all-encompassing state-regulated program."

A Comprehensive Health Mission

Chin's responsibilities span the entire cannabis ecosystem:

Youth Education

Ensuring young people understand both the benefits and risks of cannabis use, with age-appropriate, evidence-based information.

Healthcare Provider Training

Equipping emergency room personnel to recognize cannabis overuse, helping pediatricians counsel teenagers effectively, and educating all healthcare providers on safe storage practices.

Patient Guidance

Providing physicians with useful, updated information when patients-whether certified medical marijuana patients or adult-use consumers-ask about cannabis products for therapeutic purposes.

"We want to make sure the conversation doesn't end there," Chin said. "When states move from a medical market to adult-use, it increases access, but it also increases desire for therapeutic action."

The Legalization Effect

Adult-use legalization typically causes medical cannabis enrollment to plummet. Once adults 21 and older can purchase cannabis without a doctor's certification, many abandon the medical program.

But New York is working to preserve the medical pathway for several reasons:

Medical Programs Offer Distinct Benefits

• Higher potency limits for patients with serious conditions
• Pharmacist consultations at medical dispensaries
• Tax advantages in some jurisdictions
• Legal protections for employment and housing
• Interstate reciprocity for traveling patients

Legalization Opens Conversations

Paradoxically, adult-use legalization can actually strengthen medical cannabis by reducing stigma.

"Now that it's legalized, folks are more comfortable having an open conversation," Chin noted. "There's still stigma, but there is more support for education and safety and guidance."

Patients who might have been reluctant to discuss cannabis with their doctors in a medical-only market often feel more comfortable raising the topic once adult-use is legal.

Modernizing Medical Marijuana

New York lawmakers appear committed to preserving and improving the state's medical program. Governor Kathy Hochul is expected to sign legislation that will "modernize our medical program," according to Chin.

The updates include:

• Extended certifications: Patients can stay certified for two years instead of one
• Home cultivation: Medical patients gain the right to grow their own cannabis
• Easier reciprocity: Streamlined process for having New York certifications recognized in other states

New York also remains one of the few markets requiring medical dispensaries to have a licensed pharmacist on-site-a standard that emphasizes the medical nature of these programs.

The Rescheduling Question

The cannabis industry is watching closely to see how the federal government handles marijuana rescheduling. Moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III-an initiative begun under the Biden administration that Trump promised to revisit-could significantly impact medical cannabis.

Chin is optimistic about the potential changes:

"The regulated dispensary system upon which the $32 billion national industry is based won't go away overnight, but the state will still have its robust regulations in place," she said.

Opening Research Opportunities

Schedule I status has effectively shut cannabis out of the FDA approval process, preventing the development of plant-based pharmaceutical drugs and cannabis-based therapies covered by mainstream health insurance.

Rescheduling would "open up opportunities for research," Chin explained. It would also create a psychological shift, with "another layer of stigma melting away."

"The conversation will change among providers-even psychologically," she said.

Addressing Difficult Questions

Some challenges will remain regardless of federal rescheduling. Among the most controversial is the relationship between cannabis and children.

Cannabis Education for Youth

Chin and the Office of Cannabis Management recently completed a series of statewide meetings addressing key questions: What does cannabis education look like for youth? What's safe and what's not?

This debate extends far beyond New York and will likely continue as more states legalize adult-use cannabis.

Making Medical Claims

It will still be some time before cannabis retailers-or even medical providers-can make definitive claims about what specific products might do for particular ailments.

Medical claims are strictly regulated by the federal government, and Schedule I drugs are excluded from the FDA approval process. FDA approval is required before making any product claims, as various CBD companies learned when they faced enforcement actions for promising specific health effects.

The Path Forward

Chin's work represents a broader vision for how cannabis can be integrated into public health systems thoughtfully and responsibly.

By maintaining focus on:

• Evidence-based education
• Healthcare provider training
• Patient safety
• Ongoing research
• Stigma reduction

New York is attempting to chart a course that preserves cannabis's medical benefits while managing the public health implications of widespread adult-use access.

A National Model?

As other states grapple with similar challenges, New York's health-forward approach-complete with a dedicated chief health officer-may offer valuable lessons.

The key insight: legalization doesn't have to mean abandoning medical cannabis. With the right structure and commitment, states can expand access while maintaining robust medical programs that serve patients with serious conditions.

"The conversations are happening," Chin said. And in those conversations lies the potential for cannabis to fulfill its promise as both a wellness product and a legitimate medical therapy.

For New York, keeping cannabis medical isn't just about preserving a program-it's about ensuring that as the industry grows, health and safety remain at the center of the conversation.