Medical cannabis access is disproportionately white; here’s how to make it more equitable

BY DR. TORIAN EASTERLING

New York is charting an innovative path forward that aims to create the most diverse cannabis market in the country. Although four adult-use dispensaries are open—an accomplishment to be recognized—we should also see more medical dispensaries supported and led by Black and brown social-equity applicants who understand the medical program.

In all of New York state, there are only 38 medical cannabis dispensaries; this represents a signi cant burden to many patients who must drive long distances to access their medicine. Unfortunately, adultuse dispensaries are not a replacement for the necessary care provided at their medical counterparts.

As our state continues to roll out the legal adult-use cannabis industry, it is imperative that providers and public health o cials advocate for patients and communities that have borne the brunt of disinvestment and unjust policies, ensuring that lawmakers and statewide leaders are centering an equitable approach.

Medical cannabis access in the U.S. is disproportionately white, with a 2020 study reporting 87.5% of medical cannabis patients were Caucasian. We must make sure people of color have the same access to medical cannabis. Structural barriers, including dispensary locations, access to nancial resources for legacy providers and a failure to expand medical cannabis licensing to new applicants from Black and brown communities, have led to inequities.

Patients must have the same access, physically and nancially, to medical cannabis as any other medicine. Medical insurance does not cover medical cannabis. at means medical cannabis patients must pay out of pocket for their medicine, sometimes spending hundreds of dollars a month on care.

New York has proposed a bill, which passed in the state Senate, that would require cannabis to be covered by medical insurance. If passed, the measure would provide a greater incentive for medical cannabis patients to remain in the program. If New York wants its full cannabis program, medical and recreational, to be equitable and progressive, turning this legislation into law should be a priority. We must also ensure New York’s physicians are duly educated about the health bene ts and spectrum of care surrounding providing medical cannabis to their patients. For instance, if a doctor is willing to prescribe opiates or narcotics to a patient—cannabis must also be considered for the long-term benet of the patient.

Federal, state investments

Increasing investments at the state and federal levels in cannabis research will have a huge impact. We watch closely as one proposed policy is being considered. e Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act would eliminate the red tape that hinders cannabis research and president & ceo K.C. Crain group publisher Jim Kirk publisher/executive editor

Frederick P. Gabriel Jr.

EDITORIAL editor-in-chief Cory Schouten, cory.schouten@crainsnewyork.com managing editor Telisha Bryan assistant managing editors Anne Michaud, Amanda Glodowski director of audience and engagement

Elizabeth Couch audience engagement editor Jennifer Samuels digital editor Taylor Nakagawa art director Carolyn McClain photographer Buck Ennis senior reporters Cara Eisenpress, Aaron Elstein, C.J. Hughes, Eddie Small reporters Amanda D’Ambrosio, Nick Garber, Jacqueline Neber, Caroline Spivack op-ed editor Jan Parr, opinion@crainsnewyork.com sales assistant Ryan Call to contact the newsroom: editors@crainsnewyork.com www.crainsnewyork.com/staff

685 Third Ave., New York, NY 10017-4024

ADVERTISING www.crainsnewyork.com/advertise sales director Laura Lubrano laura.lubrano@crainsnewyork.com senior vice president of sales Susan Jacobs account executives Paul Mauriello, Marc Rebucci, Philip Redgate people on the move manager Debora Stein, dstein@crain.com

CUSTOM CONTENT associate director, custom content Sophia Juarez, sophia.juarez@crainsnewyork.com custom content coordinator Ashley Maahs, ashley.maahs@crain.com

EVENTS www.crainsnewyork.com/events manager of conferences & events Ana Jimenez, ajimenez@crainsnewyork.com senior manager of events Michelle Cast, michelle.cast@crainsnewyork.com

REPRINTS director, reprints & licensing Lauren Melesio, 212.210.0707, lmelesio@crain.com

PRODUCTION would create greater opportunity to derive innovative treatments from the plant.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Ofce of Cannabis Management should be applauded for the thoughtful way they are rolling out legalization in New York, but I also applaud the intent of Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes and state Sen. Liz Krueger, who understand that just opening adult-use dispensaries will not solve every problem and that we need to expand the state’s medical program.

Medical cannabis patients and their needs must remain a focus if we want to build an industry that embodies the essence of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act. ■ production and pre-press director Simone Pryce media services manager Nicole Spell

Dr. Torian Easterling is senior vice president for population and community health and chief strategic and innovation o cer at One Brooklyn Health and former rst deputy commissioner and chief equity o cer at the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

SUBSCRIPTION CUSTOMER SERVICE www.crainsnewyork.com/subscribe customerservice@crainsnewyork.com chairman Keith E. Crain vice chairman Mary Kay Crain president & ceo K.C. Crain senior executive vice president Chris Crain editor-in-chief emeritus Rance Crain chief nancial of cer Robert Recchia founder G.D. Crain Jr. [1885-1973] chairman Mrs. G.D. Crain Jr. [1911-1996]

877.824.9379 (in the U.S. and Canada). $140.00 one year, for print subscriptions with digital access.

Entire contents ©copyright 2023 Crain Communications Inc. All rights reserved. ©CityBusiness is a registered trademark of MCP Inc., used under license agreement.