Four state programs would begin helping cover the cost of medical marijuana for beneficiaries, under a bill that took a first step through the Legislature Wednesday.
The bill endorsed by the Assembly Health Committee, A5760, would provide long-elusive outside financial support through the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund, Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled, Senior Gold and the Victims of Crime Compensation Office.
“We await insurance coverage for this particular therapeutic,” said Assemblyman Herb Conaway, D-Burlington. “But not having that, we’re moving forward with coverage in these programs because they are state-run programs with state dollars only, and so there’s no implication of any federal program or action being devoid as it is of federal support.”
The benefits would apply to patients registered in the state’s medical marijuana program. Enrollment was approaching 111,000 patients as of the end of May.