A US medical cannabis company has welcomed yet another move towards expanded patient access by a US state.
Cannabis flower can now be used for medical purposes in Minnesota after a new law was formally ratified by the state’s governor, Tim Walz.
The law expands access by legalising cheaper forms of cannabis, meaning patients no longer need to purchase more expensive application such as oils.
Despite global innovation around how treatments can be administered, traditional consumption of the flower of the cannabis plant still accounted for 65.8% of the total value of the US cannabis industry in 2020.
According to Grand View Research, the American market will be worth $84bn by 2028, fuelled by patient demand looking for treatments for back pain and mental health problems.
Cultivators still face huge hurdles across the states – including in Minnesota where a full adult use proposal has stalled – but a broader medical cannabis regime is good news for the industry.
Dr Kyle Kingsley, chairman and CEO of Vireo Health, a physician-led medical cannabis company, said: “This advancement marks a major milestone for Minnesota and begins the next chapter for the state’s medical cannabis program.
“Adding smokable cannabis flower to the state’s cannabis program will drastically improve the accessibility and affordability for both new and existing cannabis patients.
“We applaud Governor Walz and legislators from both parties for acting on this important endeavour to do what we believe is best for Minnesota patients.
“Over time, the addition of cannabis flower to the medical program will cut costs for many of the tens of thousands of Minnesotans across the state who currently use cannabis to treat serious medical conditions.
“It will also encourage the participation of many new patients who previously were shut out of the program due to costs or lack of product diversity.”
A total of 36 US states now have medical cannabis programmes, with access and scope varying across the country.
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