Just want to follow-up and let everyone know that is interested in the MA Medicinal Industry...
The preliminary DPH regulations just came out on Friday, a final draft will be decided on and voted by the DPH Council (state legislators; to the best of my knowledge).
The proposed regs are BAD, BAD, BAD for everyone (except the docs).
Without going into crazy detail, the regs essentially ban homegrown, ban caregiving and co-ops and allow the only people in MA to legally grow are as few as 13 dispensary owners of 35 dispensaries.
Patients will be able to get their cards but will be basically forced into dispensaries (who will deliver, by the way).
A "Hardship Cultivation" which would allow a patient to home grow or assign a caregiver will be based on financial hardship or a transportation hardship. Since the state is creating incentives for the those applying for dispensaries to offer delivery and free/reduced meds to those on a fixed income/ss, etc. there is such an incentive to obtain a dispensary license; all dispensaries will run both programs hence all but banning anyone actually needing a "Hardship".
From the surface: great for doctors (including pot-docs), great for patients (who don't know what really quality medicine is), good for those from out of state with very deep pockets, bad for those local or not who have experience growing, etc. and wanted their fair shot.
In the long run it will be bad for patients as well who will not be able to work with a caregiver, and will have to choose a single dispensary to obtain medicine from (can only be changed once every 120 days).