Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is one of the few conditions that the state of New York allow to be treated by medical marijuana. The state Health Department has released the final regulations regarding its medical marijuana program to be implemented next January, which will feature the same number of restrictions as previously announced. The final regulations presented by the Health Department for the medical marijuana program did not undergo major alterations from the state proposal issued last December. In January 2016, the state is expected to authorize the use of non-smokeable versions of marijuana, which includes ingested or vaporized forms of the drug, for the treatment of IBD, cancer, HIV/AIS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), spinal cord damage, epilepsy, neuropathies and Huntington's disease. The state will also provide licenses to five organizations in order to grow and dispense marijuana to state-regulated dispensaries. However, a series of advocate groups were expecting different news, including not only the indications covered by the regulation, but also a series of additional diseases and conditions. Among the most important arguments among these groups are to expand the number of dispensaries, which at present only includes 20 facilities and may obligate patients to drive for hours in order to have access to the medical treatment. "New York State recognizes that possession and use of marijuana is illegal in the United States. However, the State also recognizes the benefit in making available medical marijuana to qualified individuals with debilitating and life threatening illnesses and conditions," stated the summary document published on the website of the departmen