New Hampshire’s medical marijuana program has more than doubled in size since 2016, according to the latest available data from the Department of Health and Human Services. About 4,700 patients were enrolled as of Dec. 20, up from just over 2,000 patients the same time last year.
The program’s most recent annual report showed patients participating in the program ranged from age 5 to 99 and were scattered across the state. Most of those patients were using medical marijuana to alleviate symptoms related to injuries, cancer or multiple sclerosis — but many were also dealing with Crohn's disease, epilepsy and traumatic brain injuries.
The data in that annual report was compiled in mid-2017, before New Hampshire expanded its medical marijuana program to include more conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder and moderate to severe chronic pain.
Therapeutic cannabis providers told NHPR in August they were anticipating a "large influx" in patients because of those changes.
