The medical marijuana improvement bill, Senate Bill 247, went into effect in Vermont, making several changes to the medical marijuana registry and the provisions regulating medical marijuana dispensaries.

For starters, the new law eliminates the  six-month relationship required between an applicant patient and his or her health care professional signing the medical verification form; naturopathic (holistic) doctors with a special license endorsement are now authorized to certify a patient for medical marijuana.

The act also lifts the  1,000 patient cap for total number of registered patients who may obtain marijuana from a licensed dispensary. Dispensaries will be permitted to deliver marijuana to patients and caregivers and be allowed to grow hemp and produce and sell products made from hemp that are intended for symptom relief.

The act requires the Department of Health, in consultation with the Department of Mental Health, to review and report on the existing research on the treatment of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as the existing research on the use of marijuana for relief of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

SOURCE: The Vermont Legislative Bill Tracking System