New State Medical Marijuana Rules Put in Place

New rules for the medical use of marijuana have been written into the commonwealth's regulatory code by the Massachusetts Public Health Council Wednesday, according to State House News Service report published on LowellSun.com.

Among the new regulations are how much marijuana can be generally used by patients, the licensing procedure for medical marijuana dispensaries and how low-income patients can get access, according to the report.

These regulations will go into effect May 24, according to the Sun.

In November, Massachusetts voters approved a ballot measure that would allow doctors to prescribe marijuana as part of a treatment.

for creating regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries. The state law also said, and the time, anyone who received a prescription from their physician could legally grow their own marijuana.

Locally, in February, Woburn City Council voted to approve a one-year moratorium on applications for medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.

According to the meeting notes, the purpose of the moratorium was to give Woburn officials time to assess the situation and come up with guidelines or restrictions for the city.

"The legislation requires the state Department of Public Health to issue regulations regarding implementation of the legislation by May 1, 2013 which are expected to provide guidance in regulating medical marijuana, including medical marijuana treatment centers," the minutes read. "As the regulation of medical marijuana raises novel and complex legal and planning issues, the City requires adequate time to consider whether to allow facilities associated with the medical use of marijuana, to the extent that such facilities are permitted under state laws and regulations, and, if so, where and under what conditions should such facilities be located in the City of Woburn."