Medical Marijuana debate continues

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - The clock is ticking to figure out how Massachusetts' medical marijuana law will work. 

We are looking at a May 1st deadline.  That's two months for the Department of Public Health to get all the medical marijuana regulations in place. 

The law has been passed, but the medical marijuana debate continues in Massachusetts.  The Department of Public Health held its third and final listening session at Holyoke Community College on Wednesday.  A packed conference room of close to 200 people concerned about how the law will be regulated. John Papsadore wants to be able to grow marijuana at home.  Since he can't easily get to a dispensary. 

"It doesn't knock you out like the very powerful painkillers.  You can't get me hooked on narcotics for the rest of my life, so you can function when you're on medical marijuana", says Papsadore. 

People with Multiple Sclerosis, cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, Hepatitis C, ALS, Crohn's and Parkinson's disease will qualify.  Some other conditions are unclear.

"This is for conditions that are debilitating and have an adverse impact on a person's ability to live their life", says Department of Public Health Interim Commissioner Dr. Lauren Smith. 

One issue that hasn't been decided is how you will have to prove that you need it.

"People are going to have to demonstrate that it is a debilitating condition not an inconvenience or a minor problem, so we're going to have to wrestle with that", says Interim Commissioner Smith.

Commissioner Smith told 22News they are working hard to meet that May 1st deadline, but didn't quite guarantee that they will.