Milestone reached for number of Massachusetts cannabis patients

Last year, the number of medical cannabis patients grew by more than 30,000 and is now at the highest level in the state since the first dispensary opened in June 2015. Massachusetts now has 100,000 medical marijuana patients in the state, according to a report in the Boston Business Journal. This is an increase from 67,742 registered cardholders in March last year. If you compare March 2019 to March 2020, the state only saw a growth of 1,863 patients. The emergence of the coronavirus pandemic and the introduction of regulatory changes by the state to ease access to the medical marijuana market have caused the state's patient list to explode. One of the rules that was passed allowed potential medical marijuana patients to see doctors and get MMJ cards online instead of going to doctor's offices. According to the Business Journal, although the number of MMJ patients has risen sharply, the state's Cannabis Control Commission has approved far more recreational license applications than medical permits. The state has 100 licensed adult cannabis dealers, compared to 76 medical dispensaries, the Journal reported.