The number of medical marijuana clinics in Minnesota will almost triple in the next few months.
That's by design. In fact, it's mandated by state law.
When Minnesota legalized medical cannabis last year, lawmakers set some of the most restrictive ground rules in the nation. Minnesota would decide who could grow the drug, who could buy it, and in what form it could be sold. The state also strictly limited where medical marijuana can be sold — just eight storefronts, scattered across the state.
At the time, critics worried that there wouldn't be enough cannabis clinics to serve all the patients who might want access to the program.
These days, the main worry is that there won't be enough patients to keep the lights on in all eight clinics when they finally do open.
As of last Friday, 1,159 people had enrolled in the state program. Minnesota has some of the lowest patient enrollment numbers per capita among the 23 states that have legalized medical cannabis.
There are about 0.2 medical marijuana patients for every 1,000 residents, according to the nonprofit policy site ProCon.org. The national average is eight patients per 1,000. In Michigan and Maine, there are 18 patients for every 1,000 residents. In states such as Oregon, Colorado, California and Washington, the average is 19.
Right now, the only legal way to take medical marijuana in Minnesota is to be diagnosed with a devastating illnesses — nine conditions qualify patients to enroll in Minnesota's program, including cancer and seizure disorders. To enroll, patients need a health care provider to certify that they have a qualifying condition and they can only take cannabis in pill or liquid form.
