Delaware’s governor has signed a bill to significantly expand the state’s medical cannabis program as regulators take steps to launch the recreational marijuana market.
The new law approved by Gov. John Carney (D) on Tuesday removes limitations for patient eligibility based on a specific set of qualifying health conditions. Instead, doctors will be able to issue marijuana recommendations for any condition they see fit.
The measure will also allow patients over the age of 65 to self-certify for medical cannabis access without the need for a doctor’s recommendation.
Here are the key provisions of the medical cannabis expansion legislation, HB 285:
- The list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana will be removed, allowing doctors to recommend cannabis for any condition that they believe patients could benefit from.
- Patients 65 or older will be able to self-certify their need for medical cannabis—without any need for a recommendation from a healthcare provider.
- Regulators will be authorized to issue medical cannabis cards with two- or three-year terms, instead of just the current one-year term.
- Patients diagnosed with a terminal illness, meanwhile, will be able to qualify for a card with an “indefinite” expiration date.
- The measure will provide patients with medical marijuana cards from other jurisdictions with the same privileges as registered in-state patients.
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