Bill > A4366

Introduced Session

This bill establishes a five-year "University Hospital Medical Cannabis Pilot Program" in University Hospital. The purpose of the pilot program will be to: provide medical cannabis treatment to eligible patients in order to evaluate its efficacy in improving patient outcomes; raise awareness about medical cannabis; and conduct clinical research on, and drive innovation in, the medical use of a cannabis. University Hospital will have the discretion to determine the scope and details of the pilot program, but at a minimum, the bill requires the pilot program to seek to: (1) establish an advisory council of patients, caregivers, and advocacy groups to solicit feedback and insights to guide the design and implementation of the pilot program; (2) establish a designated area in each hospital to conduct clinical research on the medical use of cannabis and to provide medical cannabis treatment, monitoring, and follow-up services to eligible patients; (3) collaborate and establish formal partnerships with academic institutions, research organizations, technology startup companies, and other healthcare companies in order to: conduct research on the use of medical cannabis; receive clinical support for the implementation of the pilot program; and ensure rigor and credibility when evaluating program outcomes; (4) recruit, screen, verify, and enroll eligible patients to participate in the pilot program; (5) integrate the use of telehealth and telemedicine in the pilot program; (6) provide patients with access to innovative delivery methods for medical cannabis; (7) integrate the pilot program with existing healthcare services provided at each hospital; (8) ensure that patients are actively engaged in the design and implementation of the pilot program's research initiatives; (9) establish community outreach and education initiatives to raise awareness about the use of medical cannabis and address stigma; (10) ensure that robust data privacy and security measures are implemented in the pilot program in accordance with federal and State privacy laws; (11) develop a strategic plan to ensure the long-term viability and scalability of the pilot program; (12) establish a continuous quality improvement system for the pilot program. No later than 12 months after the effective date of this bill and annually thereafter, the bill requires University Hospital to prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program, which report will include an analysis of the impact of the pilot program and any of University Hospital's recommendations concerning the implementation of pilot program. At the conclusion of the five-year pilot program, University Hospital will submit a final report, which report will include University Hospital's recommendation on the feasibility of continuing the program. The bill appropriates from the General Fund to University Hospital such sums as are necessary to implement the provisions of this bill. This bill will take effect immediately and will expire upon the submission of University Hospital's final report.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Reginald Atkins (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee (on 05/13/2024)

Official Document