Medical marijuana patients in Massachusetts say product variety dwindling as stores begin selling to recreational customers

Dan Scotland lives in northeastern Massachusetts and uses medical marijuana to treat insomnia, anxiety and sleep issues.

He used to go regularly to Patriot Care in Lowell — but then the medical dispensary began selling to the recreational market.

“When they went adult use, their stock pretty much dwindled,” said Scotland, who also runs a podcast about marijuana. “A lot of products have been funneled to the adult use side.”

Since the dispensary opened up for recreational sales, Scotland said, “Every time I’d check their menu before going, they didn’t have anything I needed.”

Scotland’s complaint is not unique. As medical marijuana dispensaries have begun selling to the newly legal recreational market, medical marijuana patients say they have had mixed experiences buying marijuana at dispensaries that sell to both markets. While some dispensaries have maintained adequate inventory, many patients say they have fewer choices for medical marijuana than they used to.

While patients can buy off the recreational menu, they must pay taxes and their purchases are not recorded in their medical records.

“Some dispensaries … have very similar menus from the medical and adult use side,” said Nichole Snow, executive director of the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance. [Read more at Mass Live]