Susan Ousterman, whose son died of a drug overdose in October 2020 after being turned away because of his medical marijuana card, reached out to state officials multiple times in 2021, raising concerns about the ban, her son’s case, and ads that promise to get people help for addiction.

Just days after one email between state officials and Ousterman, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs released a bulletin to treatment providers saying a federal agency had “recently” provided a document clarifying the issue.

In reality, the federal guidance was nearly a year-and-a-half old. The department, however, has never publicly acknowledged Ousterman’s outreach as the impetus.

Susan Ousterman, whose son died of a drug overdose in October 2020 after being turned away because of his medical marijuana card, reached out to state officials multiple times in 2021, raising concerns about the ban, her son’s case, and ads that promise to get people help for addiction.

Just days after one email between state officials and Ousterman, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs released a bulletin to treatment providers saying a federal agency had “recently” provided a document clarifying the issue.

In reality, the federal guidance was nearly a year-and-a-half old.

The department, however, has never publicly acknowledged Ousterman’s outreach as the impetus.

Susan Ousterman, whose son died of a drug overdose in October 2020 after being turned away because of his medical marijuana card, reached out to state officials multiple times in 2021, raising concerns about the ban, her son’s case, and ads that promise to get people help for addiction.

Just days after one email between state officials and Ousterman, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs released a bulletin to treatment providers saying a federal agency had “recently” provided a document clarifying the issue.

In reality, the federal guidance was nearly a year-and-a-half old. The department, however, has never publicly acknowledged Ousterman’s outreach as the impetus.