Medical Patients: Read This Before Sharing Your Story With the Cannabis Ombudsman
Connecticut medical cannabis patients are currently being asked by the state’s Cannabis Ombudsman to “share your medical marijuana story” through a public submission portal on the official state website.
Part of Public Records, FOIA and Transparency
Opinion. This piece expresses the view of the publication. It is labeled so readers can distinguish it from news reporting.
But there’s something you’re not being told—and it could put your private health information at serious risk.
The site does NOT warn you that your submission is not protected by HIPAA.
Despite the medical tone and government branding, the Office of the Cannabis Ombudsman is not a HIPAA-covered entity. That means your sensitive medical history, symptoms, diagnoses, and personal experiences can be:
- Publicly requested under FOIA (Freedom of Information Act)
- Shared without your consent
- Stored or forwarded with no legal confidentiality requirement
The Office of the Healthcare Advocate has confirmed that any communications to the Cannabis Ombudsman are not protected by federal medical privacy law.
Yet patients are never warned of this before submitting their stories. There is no disclaimer and no informed consent. The form appears official and caring—yet omits the fact that your most personal health disclosures may become part of a public record.
This creates a dangerous illusion of privacy that could cause real harm.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Medical cannabis is treated as a pharmaceutical in Connecticut
- You may believe you’re safely sharing with a state healthcare advocate—but your information is not legally private
- Any submitted story could be released through a public records request
Link to the state form (DO NOT submit):
https://portal.ct.gov/cannabisombudsman?language=en_US
Until these issues are addressed and full transparency is provided, we strongly urge patients not to use the submission form.
Patients deserve better safeguards, clear warnings, and real confidentiality when asked to share their stories—especially by the state.
We will continue to monitor this situation and push for accountability and reform. Your privacy matters.
This story was originally published by Connecticut CannaTimes on Facebook on June 25, 2025 and was migrated to this website on October 16, 2026. The publication date above is the original date.
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