New York regulators have selected 10 clinicians, researchers and healthcare professionals for the second cohort of the state’s Medical Cannabis Advisory Council, with the group set to focus on clinical education, practitioner tools and patient resources.
The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced the new cohort Thursday. The council was established in 2023 to bring clinical expertise into the state’s Medical Cannabis Program, with its first 13-member cohort helping evaluate research and develop guidance for practitioners.
Members of the new cohort come from fields including oncology, toxicology, psychiatry, addiction medicine, pharmacy, public health and cannabis science.
The 10 members are:
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Rebecca Ashare, PhD — Professor and Director of Clinical Training, University at Buffalo; Cannabis in Oncology
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Adam Blumenberg, MD — Attending Physician and Associate Professor, Columbia University/New York-Presbyterian Medical Center; Medical Toxicology and Emergency Medicine
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Wilbur Hitt, MD — Professor, Albany Medical Center; OB-GYN and Informatics
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Constantine Ioannou, MD — Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Services, Nassau University Medical Center; Psychiatry
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Jessica Kruger, PhD — Director of Teaching Innovation and Excellence, University at Buffalo; Community Health
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Christopher Kudrich, PA — Physician Assistant, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Addiction Medicine and Psychiatry
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Joshua Rein, DO — Assistant Professor of Medicine and Staff Research Physician, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai/James J. Peters VA Medical Center
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Jim Seaberg, MPH — Assistant Director, Drexel University Medical Cannabis Research Center; Healthcare Management, Policy and Clinical Research
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Danielle Smith, MPH, PhD — Assistant Professor, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center; Public Health and Cannabis Science
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Erin Walsh, PharmD, RPh, MSc — Clinical Pharmacist and Founder, Viridis Care, PLLC; Cannabis Sciences and Therapeutics
OCM Executive Director John Kagia said healthcare professionals are increasingly discussing cannabis with patients and need “credible information and useful tools” to guide those conversations.
According to OCM, the council will work on developing cannabis-related clinical coursework and supplemental training, creating screening and assessment resources, treatment protocols and guidance on documentation and billing, and helping practitioners access scientific literature, harm-reduction information and patient education materials.
Dr. June Chin, OCM’s chief medical officer and chair of the council, said the goal is to translate emerging research into practical resources that allow healthcare professionals to provide evidence-informed, patient-centered care.
Members will serve one-year terms, with the possibility of an additional one-year extension.
