Statement from Vireo Health on the Expansion of Minnesota's Medical Cannabis Program to Include the Use of Smokable Cannabis Flower
Vireo Health International, Inc. supports the recent expansion of Minnesota's medical cannabis program, allowing the use of smokable cannabis flower. This change aims to enhance accessibility and affordability for patients, potentially decreasing reliance on illicit markets for cannabis products. Vireo's CEO, Dr. Kyle Kingsley, emphasized the initiative's role in improving public health and safety, particularly in combating opioid use. The company's commitment to scientific innovation is reflected in its operations across eight markets with 16 dispensaries.
- Expansion of Minnesota's medical cannabis program to include smokable cannabis flower.
- Increased accessibility and affordability for patients.
- Potential reduction in illicit market consumption.
- Contributes to public health by offering safer cannabis alternatives.
- None.
MINNEAPOLIS, May 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vireo Health International, Inc. ("Vireo" or the "Company") (CSE: VREO; OTCQX: VREOF), the leading physician-led, science-focused multi-state cannabis company, today announced its support for Governor Walz signing into law the expansion of Minnesota's medical cannabis program to include smokable cannabis flower.
The below statements are attributable to Vireo Health's Chairman and CEO, Kyle Kingsley, MD. Dr. Kingsley was an emergency room physician who left the ER to start one of Minnesota's first medical cannabis companies.
"This advancement marks a major milestone for Minnesota and begins the next chapter for the state's medical cannabis program. Adding smokable cannabis flower to the state's cannabis program will drastically improve the accessibility and affordability for both new and existing cannabis patients.
We applaud Governor Walz and legislators from both parties for acting on this important endeavor to do what we believe is best for Minnesota patients. Over time, the addition of cannabis flower to the medical program will cut costs for many of the tens of thousands of Minnesotans across the state who currently use cannabis to treat serious medical conditions. It will also encourage the participation of many new patients who previously were shut out of the program due to costs or lack of product diversity.
As a physician, I believe that this advancement will also help protect public health and safety by driving patients who previously could not afford the state's program away from illicit markets. The high costs of the medical program previously led to many patients using unsafe and untested cannabis products, including flower, purchased from the illicit market without the guidance or support of healthcare practitioners. Now Minnesotans can more easily access medical cannabis dispensed by licensed pharmacists and be monitored on our state prescription monitoring program.
Furthermore, we believe cannabis is a safer, less addictive alternative for the treatment of chronic or intractable pain. Therefore, the addition of smokable cannabis flower could further help to reduce the irrevocable damage caused by the opioid epidemic. In 2019, opioid overdoses hit a tragic record high with 428 confirmed deaths of Minnesotans. In that same year, zero died from a cannabis overdose."
About Vireo Health International, Inc.
Vireo Health International, Inc. is a physician-led cannabis company focused on bringing the best of technology, science, and engineering to the cannabis industry. Vireo manufactures proprietary, branded cannabis products in environmentally friendly facilities, state-of-the-art cultivation sites and distributes its products through its growing network of Green Goods™ and other retail locations and third-party dispensaries. Vireo's team of more than 400 employees, led by scientists, engineers, and cultivation experts, is focused on efficiency and the creation of best-in-class products, while driving scientific innovation within the cannabis industry and developing meaningful intellectual property. Today, Vireo is licensed to grow, process, and/or distribute cannabis in eight markets and operates 16 dispensaries nationwide. For more information about Vireo Health, please visit www.vireohealth.com.
Contact Information
Media Inquiries:
Albe Zakes
Vice President, Corporate Communications
albezakes@vireohealth.com
(267) 2221-4800
Investor Inquiries:
Sam Gibbons
Vice President, Investor Relations
samgibbons@vireohealth.com
(612) 314-8995
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SOURCE Vireo Health International, Inc.
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