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DHHS Commissioner: Cost Of Rolling Out Medical Marijuana Law Adding Up

The commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services says he’s concerned about the cost to his department of implementing the state’s new medical marijuana law.

Appearing on The Exchange, Nicholas Toumpas says there is no shortage of issues facing his staff as it works through the early stages.

“There are legal issues that we have, there are systems issues that need to be developed, there are protocols that need to be developed, there is staffing that is required in order to go off and certify and license.”

Toumpas says the law does not include money for additional staff, but says more funding through fees will be available once the program is in place.

The department has until July of next year to develop administrative rules for the new law, which was passed earlier this year.

It then has until January 2015 to develop rules for the state’s four medical marijuana dispensaries.

New Hampshire was the last New England state to approve a medical marijuana law.

Michael serves as NHPR's Program Director. Michael came to NHPR in 2012, working as the station's newscast producer/reporter. In 2015, he took on the role of Morning Edition producer. Michael worked for eight years at The Telegraph of Nashua, covering education and working as the metro editor.
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