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After Lawsuit, AG Advises DHHS To Issue Medical Marijuana ID Cards

Linda Horan's lawsuit has forced the state's hand, pushing the AG to advise DHHS to start issuing ID cards ahead of marijuana dispensaries opening.

The New Hampshire Attorney General is advising the Department of Health and Human Services to start issuing medical marijuana ID cards to eligible patients. In theory, patients could soon access medical marijuana, even though they can't yet buy it legally in the state.
The decision stems from the case of Linda Horan, an Alstead woman with late-stage terminal lung cancer. Three weeks ago, a judge ordered the state to issue a medical marijuana ID card to Horan. The AG had wanted to hold off on issuing the cards until four dispensaries were open across the state, but those dispensaries are more than a year behind schedule. Horan's case asserted the state had an obligation to issue her a card under the law, whether the dispensaries were open or not. Horan plans to head to Maine Friday to access medical marijuana there.

The state health department has already received about 70 other applications for ID cards.

Before joining NHPR in August 2014, Jack was a freelance writer and radio reporter. His work aired on NPR, BBC, Marketplace and 99% Invisible, and he wrote for the Christian Science Monitor and Northern Woodlands.
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