Failure by Pa. officials to clarify rules around medical marijuana, addiction treatment had serious consequences · Spotlight PA

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Turned Away

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Tyler Cordeiro was denied funding for treatment despite a state program offering help for anyone, even without insurance. The problem: his medical marijuana card.

Tyler Cordeiro died of an overdose in October 2020 after being told he couldn't access treatment while uninsured and using medical marijuana.

Failure by Pa. officials to clarify rules around medical marijuana, addiction treatment had serious consequences

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

Tyler Cordeiro was denied funding for treatment despite a state program offering help for anyone, even without insurance. The problem: his medical marijuana card.

Nearly a year ago, Spotlight PA sought information on how often physicians approve patients for the program to treat opioid use disorder.

Why Pennsylvania’s health department is taking Spotlight PA to court

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

Jennifer Smith, secretary for the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, continues to contend the state’s drug oversight agency was not responsible for confusion that wrongly barred some people from addiction treatment.

Top Pa. drug official denies blame for botched medical marijuana guidance, but her claims don’t add up

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

Susan Ousterman spent months this year reaching out to the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs with concerns over confusion about marijuana funding rules. Her son, Tyler Cordeiro, was wrongly denied treatment funding assistance in September 2020.

New records reveal the cost of Pa.’s failure to clarify rules around addiction treatment and marijuana

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

The public could soon know for the first time how many patients use medical marijuana to treat opioid use disorder in Pennsylvania, one of the few states to specifically endorse that treatment option.

Wolf administration ordered to reveal details of cannabis use as drug addiction treatment

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

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