Loaded Question: Are medical patients being overlooked in adult-use states?

Jesce Horton | CEO LOWD

Yes, in numerous ways. Medical patients typically use the same products that are being used in adult-use markets, however, their dosage requirements are much higher. So, as we transition to markets with increased taxes, company overheads and regulations, the ability for patients to afford products is severely hampered. Additionally, states are not developing consumption laws and legal spaces like lounges in ways that are accessible to the growing number of medical consumers. In many states, medical consumers are being overlooked through the fact that many medical programs are bastardized completely when the adult-use market is ushered in.

Lisa Hurwitz | President | Happi

In some states, yes. Often when the transition happens to adult-use, dispensaries get a rush of new consumers and supply is quickly depleted. Some states have been smart about protecting their patients by enforcing much lower purchase limits on adult-use products to ensure there is enough supply for medical patients. Others have lesser protections in place so medical patients are left with empty menus or marginal products.

Jason Nelson | CEO | BeLeaf Medical

As states transition to adult-use sales, the shifting attention from medical patients to the recreational market has been documented in multiple medical to adult-use market transitions and must be proactively addressed in all forthcoming adult-use market establishments. While patients are almost always the first purchasing block to support cannabis businesses, the persistent federal illegality alongside the inconvenience of medical patient registrations substantially limits that eligible purchasing population.

Seth Oxhandler | Chief Science Officer | High Five Edibles

No. We are actually seeing more requests due to the number of stores that are in the New Mexico. They are all required to sell medical products. There are more than 500 cannabis retail stores in New Mexico and a lot in places that didn’t sell medical products so I have to say that the availability is greater than it was prior.

Traci Black | Vice President of Operations | Dizpot

I my opinion, no. I can’t attest to that for every market, but I think the license holders that I have relationships with have been very mindful to take care of both the patients and consumers. They still have seating areas at a desk, or will have consultations with patients to address concerns, and they do a really good job of training their employees to be very knowledgeable.

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