The New York State Legislature gave the go-ahead for a program that would provide medical marijuana in the most severe cases on an emergency basis but it’s very unclear if the governor will actually support it or stop it right in its tracks. For those with debilitating diseases, the Assembly passed a bill that would begin New York State’s medical marijuana program early. The Compassionate Care act passed last year initially created this. On Monday, the state Senate passed its version of the bill, and is now sitting on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s desk for his signature.
A Comment made by Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi is leaving people guessing:
“Our top priority has always been to deliver relief to those in pain. We will review the legislation in the context of implementing the Compassionate Care Act and complying with existing federal statutes.”
Under the Compassionate Care Act, sponsored by Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) and Assemblyman Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan), Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS and other diseases will get prescriptions for oil and pill versions of marijuana from approved dispensaries in New York State.
January of 2016 is expected to be the launch date for the program. The bills passed last week and Monday would speed up the process and get the drug in the hands of those most in need of it, first. One or more of the 43 companies applying to the state to establish growing operations would be awarded a license and would,”patients whose condition is severely debilitating or severely degenerative for whom delay for getting treatment would endanger their health or safety,” according to Assemblyman Gottfried.
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